The Akan people of Ghana have a proverb: âThe lizard is not as mad with the boys who threw stones at it as with the boys who stood by and rejoiced over its fate!â Rejoicing at someoneâs downfall is like participating in the cause of that downfall or even wishing more evil on the person.
That was the attitude of the Ammonites who maliciously rejoiced when the temple in Jerusalem âwas desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exileâ (Ezek. 25:3). For spitefully celebrating Israelâs misfortunes, the Ammonites experienced Godâs displeasure, which resulted in grim consequences (vv. 4-7).
How do we react when disaster befalls our neighbor or when our neighbor gets into trouble? If she is a nice and friendly neighbor, then, of course, we will sympathize with her and go to her aid. But what if he is an unfriendly, trouble-making neighbor? Our natural tendency may be to ignore him or even secretly rejoice at his downfall.
Proverbs warns us: âDo not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoiceâ (24:17). Instead, Jesus tells us that we show His love in action when we âlove [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us]â (Matt. 5:44). By so doing, we imitate the perfect love of our Lord (5:48).
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