Proverbs 24:17-20 - Do
not rejoice when your enemies fall into trouble. Don't be happy when they stumble.
For the LORD will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them. Do not fret because of evildoers; don't envy
the wicked. For the evil have no future;
their light will be snuffed out.
Solomon places a lot of emphasis on staying away from evil…reminding
us of evils power to suck us into its ways. But he also hides a truth in this
chapter about how we should react when evil is found and brought to justice. We
are to remain compassionate …silently thanking God for his justice…..never allowing
our heart to rejoice over their fall.
I admit that this is very hard to follow…for our soul wants
to shout and brag that evil has been overcome. But if we look at the model of
Jesus….when he appeared to men after his resurrection…he always met them in quiet
ways…and reminded them of the work that needed to be done after he was to
ascend to heaven. Not one time did he
appear in public to brag and gloat.
Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to internalize
my feelings of justice when I am tempted to gloat or be happy over a wrong that
you correct. Forgive me for the times
that I have failed to see the sadness in your justice…and that one more soul
might have been lost to heaven. Help me
to keep trying to build a heart of compassion and love like yours…that tries to
save souls…not win battles with evil.
Amen.
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