Posted on 12/12/2021 3:50:07 AM PST by Kaslin
If you are on the political right, you might view TV commentators like Chris Cuomo or Rachel Maddow as “the enemy.” In the same way, many on the political left view commentators like Tucker Carlson or Sean Hannity as “the enemy.” It is no surprise, therefore, that many are on the right are gloating over CNN’s firing of Chris Cuomo, just as many on the left gloated when Bill O’Reilly had to leave Fox.
But the Book of Proverbs has something to say about this, stating “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them” (Proverbs 24:17-18, NIV).
Let’s remember that, in biblical times, when reference was made to an “enemy,” it was often to a mortal enemy, someone trying to defame you or destroy you. Such a person was dead set on doing you great harm, not to mention potentially hurting your family as well. Such a person wanted to kill you or, at the least, render you completely powerless and disgraced. Your downfall would be their success, your demise their victory.
And so, you prayed that God would stop them in their paths. That He would do to them what they planned to do to you. That their evil intentions would boomerang back onto them.
“Bring them down, Lord!” you cried.
And that is exactly what He did, throwing them down from their lofty perch.
But at that moment, when He answered your prayers, it was not the time to gloat. Instead, it was the time for reverent worship, for holy thanksgiving, and for personal circumspection. It was the time for humility, not pride.
Otherwise, Proverbs warned, if you fell into jubilant gloating – as opposed to thanking God for His justice and intervention – the Lord might stop dealing with the pride and sin of your enemy and turn back and deal with you.
In the words of the biblical scholar Derek Kidner, “Verse 18 shows that 17 is far from optional, for the point of 18b is that your glee may well be a more punishable sin than all the guilt of your enemy.”
Now that is something to chew on. In God’s sight, our glee at our enemy’s downfall “may well be a more punishable sin than all the guilt of [our] enemy.”
Not only so, but if God determines that our gloating deserves more attention than the previous sins of our enemy, it will cause him to stop bringing judgment down on our foe.
It’s almost like a “taunting” penalty in the NFL, assessed when you “taunt” your opponent after making a great play. But this time, the taunting penalty after your great play, which could have sealed the fate of the other team, now causes your team to lose.
Personally, I don’t look at people like Chris Cuomo or Rachel Maddow (or a host of others on the left) as my enemies, although they may be ideological foes and although, in my view, the realization of many of their goals would bring great harm to our nation.
That being said, I am glad when justice is done and unrepentant sin is exposed.
At the same time, as I wrote when Gov. Andrew Cuomo was forced to resign (also quoting these same verses), I do not gloat or celebrate. Instead, I look at my own life more carefully, seeking to honor God in the present and making sure that there are no skeletons hiding in the closet, fully understanding that when we leave sin unconfessed and without repentance, it will surely find us out.
When it comes to Chris Cuomo, if you are gloating over his demise, are you so sure that you have never acted unethically to help out a family member? Or that, if you were investigated as carefully as he was, that you would come out squeaky clean? Or that, if you had the platform he had, you would not have put your foot in your mouth so often that you wouldn’t have survived a week, let alone years on the air? Or that, if all your actions and words were scrutinized (as his brother’s were), you would not have any accusers?
Perhaps your answer is: Yes, I’m sure I have never acted unethically to help a family member. I’m sure that, if investigated, I would come out squeaky clean. Also, I do have a platform, and I’m careful with what I say. And yes, I am confident that no one could accuse me of ever saying or doing anything inappropriate.
If that is the case, then I commend you. Well done!
That would also mean that you haven’t gloated over the fall of the Cuomo brothers, correct?
It would also mean that, if the willful, even cultivated thoughts of your heart could be revealed – be it in your attitude towards others or in your secret sexual thoughts – you would also come out squeaky clean.
After all, God sees our secret thoughts more clearly than we see our own public acts. And it was Jesus Himself who said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).
So, to repeat, I’m glad when justice is done and when unrepentant sin is exposed (in contrast with sins for which we have repented and dealt with righteously before God and people).
But I will not gloat.
You may disagree with me, which is fine and good. But by all means, do consider what Proverbs says.
There is a reason it is part of the Bible.
This lost me at “Michael Brown”
That hit piece he just put out on Trump was definitive.
How bout a little Irish jig?
The left will gloat but not those at the top. Their underlings will give their hard left supporters the red meat to stay excited and thereby make the leaders ‘above it all’. It’s ok to give them a good swift kick when they’r down. Remember Gary Hart(pence) and the Monkey Business? Ronald Reagan: “I never thought much of Gary Hart and I think even less of him now.”
As for Cuomo. He got what he deserved.
Oh thank you so much for that uplifting life changing advice Mr. Brown. I will make sure to put that on my list of things not to do today.
Mongol General: Conan, what is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.”
- ‘Conan The Barbarian’, 1982.
Our media has become a toxic media. I rejoice when they are revealed. Grateful that God has determined it cannot continue.
Demorats and their leftist media show us what they are without apology nor excuse....Heartless they are and without shame they throw their dirt in every Americans face believing they are wise they indeed become fools...just as it is written.
Destroyers of this Nation Under God transforming it into what we can no longer recognize. So I will not be told I cannot rejoice when God takes them to the mat. When Justice prevails and this in full view of the audiences they’ve deceived.
As is written.....”When the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting”.....Prov.11:10.
You go after the individuals, not the people. Use ridicule when it’s available and set up..
Is it OK to grin?😎
First, I gloat and celebrate then I give prayer and thanks. Just can’t help myself.😎
The problem, Mr Brown, is that it takes an extraordinary amount of convincing evidence to 'get a Democrat bigwig' and, when that happens, we take that Schadenfreude pleasure and, indeed, GLOAT! This especially happens when we live in a zeitgeist (defining spirit or mood of a period of history) where the self-defining LEFTist intelligentsia find it so easy to cast opprobrium (censure) upon the non-LEFT, and GLOATINGLY do so! If this were not true, explain the two impeachments of President Trump and the farcical logic / facts of the same!
In short Michael Brown, SHOVE IT!
Nope, sorry I can’t help feeling a little happy when some sanctimonious lying hypocritical leftist bill of rights hating sleazy corrupt SOS gets shut down.
Thank you for this.
Not gloating is good. A quick prayer for his soul is better.
This world needs to return to order and civility.
Good Sunday morning to all.
Yes, I remember that scripture. Excellent post and everyone had better heed it. These liberal God-haters are terrible and we DON’T need them making a comeback.
Sorry, I now play by DEMOCRAT RULES and I’ll gladly gloat when they screw up, or die (of natural causes).
Look where turning the other cheek has gotten us. Back in the 90’s, I read where something called moveon.org was being formed, and that they were looking for people who would do anything, right up to the edge of legality, to defeat us. We need to be more like that just to survive, and IMHO there is nothing wrong with taking pleasure in our work and striving to do more in the future.
I prefer the MMA approach: smash them in the face a few times when they fall until the referee pulls you off them.
I think he’s just a garden-variety wuss. A lightweight.
I think Proverbs also says when evil people die, good people dance in the streets. Maybe there’s a difference between gloating and celebrating. In that case, I will celebrate.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.