In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place. For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse seventeen of Proverbs Solomon said, “rejoice not when your enemy falls” where we read,
Rejoice not when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.
The verse begins, “Rejoice not when your enemy falls, ...” Solomon began with the words, “rejoice not” or “do not be exulted and gladdened” “when your enemy falls” which means “at the time and moment your, Solomon's son's, hating foe and adversary is cast down, wasted away and prostrated”. Solomon instructed his son not to be happy and glad at the time his hating foe and adversary is cast down.
The verse continues, “... and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” Solomon added the words, “and let not your heart be glad” or “and do not allow and permit your, Solomon's son's, soul, mind, will, desires, living being, conscience and seat of emotions and affections be exulted, joyful or spin around with rejoicing” “when he stumbles” which means “at the time and moment he, the enemy of Solomon's son, staggers, totters and comes to ruin and weakness”. Solomon told his son not to allow his soul, mind and will to be happy at the time and moment his enemy staggers and comes to ruin.
When we think through Solomon's words in this verse, we learn how he instructed his son concerning his hating foes. His son was not to be happy and glad at the time his “enemy” is cast down nor when his “enemy” comes to ruin. God knows our tendency to want those who have greatly opposed us to “fall”, and our souls tend to be happy when we hear of their demise. God is good, kind, merciful and gracious, and He wants us to be like Him. He is loving and forgiving, and He proved it when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the ability to keep our rejoicing and gladness in check even when our “enemies” are the recipients of “stumbling and falling”.
Next time Solomon says, “lest the LORD see it, and it displease him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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