Part one of three postings

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad…” Proverbs 24:17-18

“Vengeance is the most deeply rooted passion in the human soul” Oswald Chambers

The spirit of revenge is a bitter determination to redress a wrong, loss or defeat.

In making us “sanctified, and fit for the masters use,” the Holy Spirit seeks to purge us of this stubborn sin.

Therefore He inspired Solomon to address it in the Book of Proverbs.

There David’s son ordered us not to plan or execute any acts of retaliation: “Say not, I will render to the man according to his work” Proverbs 24:29

The New Testament continues his line of thought. Jesus commanded non-retaliation. “But I say unto you that ye resist not evil” Matthew 5:38-48 and the Apostle added “Recompense to no man evil for evil” Romans 12:17

Full blown retaliation is not the only way the spirit of revenge manifests. It also betrays its presence by subtle acts of spite, appearing accidental but actually in deliberate hurtful comments, costly oversights, and other mistakes.”

One of its more common manifestations lies in prompting us to celebrate or secretly be glad, when our enemies fall into trouble, harm, dishonor, or defeat.

Solomon’s description of this is “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth, lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” Proverbs 24:17-18

Paraphrasing, this states: When your adversary stumbles or falls {into trouble, loss, dishonor, or defeat}, don’t celebrate or even be glad, if you do, God will see you {harboring a spirit of revenge}, and, displeased with you, stop {defending you by} punishing your enemy.

In this Proverb we find warnings, commands, questions, assurances, and a hint.

Two warnings are clearly seen, as God here alerts us to the adverse consequences of holding or displaying vengefulness.

First, the spirit of revenge displeases Him: “ Lest the Lord see it, and it displeases Him.

Displeasing the Lord will cause us to loose Gods full approval which spoils our fellowship with Him, reduces our effectiveness in prayer, blunts our ability to hear His voice, blocks our insight into His word, and hinders our usefulness to His service.

Second vengefulness causes God to stop defending us: “and He turn away his wrath from him [your enemy].

When people become obsessed with defaming, discouraging, and defeating us, we need God on our side actively confusing, thwarting, and limiting them, and dividing their alliances, so we can continue moving forward in His will.

As long as we continue pleasing Him, He continues helping us by resisting our adversaries.

Sometimes this brings them to contrition and repentance “When a mans ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” Proverbs 16:17

To be continued