We teach our children to be good winners in sports. We teach them not to gloat, to be humble and show respect for others.
Similarly, this approach works in all areas of life, as this Proverb instructs.
Proverbs 24:17–18 ESV “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”
Don’t Rejoice
This is a great temptation—to gloat in victory over our enemy’s loss.
We all have personal enemies, people who don’t like us. Some will take every opportunity to disparage us. Others may directly oppose us, even to the point of violence.
It is challenging to rejoice in God and His victory for us over our enemies, which we should and must do, and then not rejoice in the wrong things. We must not give ourselves glory for the victory, or think we are on equal moral standing as God Himself, or turn justice into torturous vengeance, or play the Judge in a twisted delight at the pain of others even though it is deserved.
We are to be concerned for people, even our enemies, because even they are made by God in His image. As the Lord Jesus taught us, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45)
We might even hope for their salvation, or simply ask God for mercy for them in their misery. Have you ever known compassion for your enemies in their troubles? What do you think such compassion might accomplish in your own soul?
Yahweh Sees It All
We don’t want to displease God by our improper delight in His victory on our behalf. Yahweh is perfectly holy in all His dealings. He is also perfectly holy in His delight in His own justice and wrath. But, we are not so holy.
Supporting His People’s unholy attitudes is almost worse than the injustices of the enemies themselves, because we then pervert His perfect justice, and the way it will be viewed by others.
We would then make Him look bad, and as the Proverb says, He would recoil from us and our cause, at least for the time being. Eventually, He would accomplish all His purposes. This Proverb is drawing our attention to His holiness and our lack of it. God Himself, warns us, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay!” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
Have you ever seen God do this: support the cause of His people, then when they pervert what He is doing He withdraws?
Dealing uprightly with our enemies is a lifelong challenge that brings about greater maturity in Christ. When your enemy falls, be a good winner. You will be winning quite often with God on your side. May we please God in our response to His works of righteousness, rejoicing in Him and remaining humble.
(See related blog: O Lord, Smite My Enemies, But In A Loving Sort Of Way.)
Similarly, this approach works in all areas of life, as this Proverb instructs.
Proverbs 24:17–18 ESV “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”
Don’t Rejoice
This is a great temptation—to gloat in victory over our enemy’s loss.
We all have personal enemies, people who don’t like us. Some will take every opportunity to disparage us. Others may directly oppose us, even to the point of violence.
It is challenging to rejoice in God and His victory for us over our enemies, which we should and must do, and then not rejoice in the wrong things. We must not give ourselves glory for the victory, or think we are on equal moral standing as God Himself, or turn justice into torturous vengeance, or play the Judge in a twisted delight at the pain of others even though it is deserved.
We are to be concerned for people, even our enemies, because even they are made by God in His image. As the Lord Jesus taught us, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45)
We might even hope for their salvation, or simply ask God for mercy for them in their misery. Have you ever known compassion for your enemies in their troubles? What do you think such compassion might accomplish in your own soul?
Yahweh Sees It All
We don’t want to displease God by our improper delight in His victory on our behalf. Yahweh is perfectly holy in all His dealings. He is also perfectly holy in His delight in His own justice and wrath. But, we are not so holy.
Supporting His People’s unholy attitudes is almost worse than the injustices of the enemies themselves, because we then pervert His perfect justice, and the way it will be viewed by others.
We would then make Him look bad, and as the Proverb says, He would recoil from us and our cause, at least for the time being. Eventually, He would accomplish all His purposes. This Proverb is drawing our attention to His holiness and our lack of it. God Himself, warns us, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay!” (Deuteronomy 32:35)
Have you ever seen God do this: support the cause of His people, then when they pervert what He is doing He withdraws?
Dealing uprightly with our enemies is a lifelong challenge that brings about greater maturity in Christ. When your enemy falls, be a good winner. You will be winning quite often with God on your side. May we please God in our response to His works of righteousness, rejoicing in Him and remaining humble.
(See related blog: O Lord, Smite My Enemies, But In A Loving Sort Of Way.)
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