The Akan people of Ghana have a proverb: “The
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!” Rejoicing at someone’s 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 “was desecrated and over the
land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they
went into exile” (Ezek. 25:3). For spitefully celebrating Israel’s misfortunes,
the Ammonites experienced God’s 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: “Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice” (24:17). Instead, Jesus tells us that we show His love in action when we “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us]” (Matt. 5:44). By so doing, we imitate the perfect love of our Lord (5:48).
Love your neighbor as yourself. (RBC)
