Scripture

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
(Proverbs 24:17-18)

Devotional

We are never to rejoice in the misfortune or the sorrow of another. To do so may bring their reproach on ourselves. “‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”(1) Likewise the Lord asks, “Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die...and not that he should turn from his ways and live?”(2)
Given that we did not get what we deserve with regard to judgment and punishment, surely we should hope that even our enemies would find repentance and God’s mercy. To take pleasure in the misfortune of our enemies is to rejoice in their eternal separation from God.
If we truly understood what hell holds for those for whom it has been prepared, we would not want even our enemies to go there.

(1) Romans 12:19, (2) Ezekiel 18:23

Text For The Day

Proverbs 24:17, 18: Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.

Thought For The Day

“Pay attention to your enemies, for they are the first to discover your mistakes.” Antisthenes, (444- 371 B.C.), Greek philosopher, ardent follower of Socrates, he believed that man’s happiness lay in cultivating virtue for its own sake.

Questions To Ponder

Does most of God’s justice come with happiness or sorrow?
How would you define biblical justice?
Do you consider yourself just?

Morning Study Guide

Defining: “Enemy” in a word, “antichrist.” If one is not for Christ, he/she is against Him. Therefore, an enemy is anyone who has yet to be won to the saving knowledge of Christ.

Referencing: “’If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” Romans 12:20-21.

Applying: Do not attempt to win the war over your enemies; do your best to win your enemies over.