Today's reading from the One Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is Proverbs 22:17-24:34.
Proverbs 23:29-35 The Law of Love by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (this sermon is not specifically on these verses, but it deals with the issue of whether or not Christians should drink - some very interesting thoughts here and I highly recommend it)
Proverbs 24:10-12 Rescuing Unborn Children - Required and Right by John Piper
Scripture
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him. Do not fret becasue of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out. Proverbs 24:17-20
Observation
Do not take pleasure in the suffering of the wicked. Do not despair over the success of the wicked.
Application
We need to be aware of two extremes in attitude towards the wicked - both of which are wrong, and yet oh so humanly understandable.
First, we are not to take pleasure in the suffering of the wicked.
I think we could all agree on that statement. It sounds good, it sounds right, it sounds like the Sunday School answer. And it's very biblical. In fact, not only are we not to take pleasure in the suffering of the wicked, we are to LOVE our enemies and PRAY for those who persecute us! (Matthew 5:44).
And it's easy to agree in theory. It's easy to agree when our own personal experience doesn't come into play.
But when the rubber meets the road, this is a hard one to practice. If a wicked person inflicted any type of severe trauma to my children - it would go against every bone in my body not to take pleasure in his suffering.
And, in fact - didn't David pray for just that in the Psalms we read earlier? Well, he certainly prayed for justice to be done - and so should we.
I think there is a fine line between rejoicing in justice, and rejoicing in the suffering of the wicked which smacks of revenge.
Justice and revenge are similar - yet so different. Justice is good. Revenge, though a natural emotional response, is not.
On the opposite extreme, we should not despair over the prosperity of the wicked. There are certainly many times where the whole "reap what you sow" thing just doesn't seem to be holding true. Proverbs are not guarantees - they are general instructions for how life usually operates. And the fact is, the wicked WILL reap what they have sown. And if they do not repent they will be reaping eternally.
But don't gloat over that fact. ;)
I think the command in Matthew is the perfect "middle ground" for these verses. Love. Simple, but not easy.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:43-45a
Prayer
Lord, we thank You that You are just. And yet, when it comes to ourselves, we are much more thankful for your mercy. We want justice to be done when it comes to others, but we want mercy when it comes to us. Help us to see the two-sidedness of that way of thinking. We do want justice Lord, and we know that that is biblical. But Lord, give us a love for our enemies that this world cannot comprehend. This kind of love is supernatural and we need Your help Lord. Helps us to show love even when we don`t feel it. Help us to forgive. Help us to focus on the eternal.
Help us also to be able to rest in the knowledge that the day of justice will come. That the wicked will not prosper forever. Help us not to worry, but to cast our cares on You. Help us to trust You with our deepest fears, help us to rest in the knowledge that You are sovereign O God. That You are in control, and that You will work all things together for good.
Amen.
Tomorrow's passage: Song of Solomon - the entire book
4 comments:
Boy, is that ever a natural tendency though, eh ~ to gloat, or at least secretly feel some satisfaction, when things go wrong for others, specifically non-Christians?!
Two verses that really stuck out for me in these chapters were 23:13-14 ~ "Do not WITHHOLD discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his sould from death."
That word withhold reminds us that discipline is a GOOD thing ~ even welcomed! (usually only once kids grow up to be adults and they're looking back and being grateful for good parenting, but still!!) I definitely want to do whatever I can to "save my girls' souls from death." Of course, this doesn't mean that I'll spank them more frequently now ;) but it does place a lot of responsibility on parents to make sure they teach their kids obedience and right from wrong.
Oops, that's "...and save his SOUL from death", not SOULD!!
GREAT article you linked from Nancy. Love her stuff. I can attest to it's truth. The Lord used some things in my life to keep me from liscense with drinking. Many of the questions she asked can apply to other things we enjoy too like junk food or entertainment. I love that she brings up questions that are great to ask. Self-control in this area is SO crutial. Well, as it is in all areas. My husband and I enjoy red wine but even that upsets my system right now and I'm thankful in a way because it seems to be from the Lord that I not have it right now. We women have to remember too that drinking messes with our hormones as well.
I feel this sometimes when watching movies as well. I always feel GREAT when the good guy gets back at the bad guy, sometimes (often) taking matters into his (or her) own hands. A Time to Kill comes to mind. And many, many other examples. And yet, as much as it makes our sinful little hearts beat with joy to see the bad guy get what he or she "deserves," that is not the right attitude to have because it's often revenge and not justice that is portrayed. Now a movie is much different than real life, I admit, but it's still not the right way for us to be feeling. It's the old human nature in us, rather than the new creation.
I still love the movies where the good guys win and the bad guys get what's coming to them. But then I remember that death is what we'd all "have coming to us" were it not for Christ's sacrifice.
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