Is It Ever Okay to Rejoice When Your Enemy Falls?
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, 18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
For years, Megan worked under a boss who humiliated her, stole credit for her ideas, and blocked every opportunity for advancement. No matter how hard she worked, she was overlooked. Eventually, she had no choice but to leave the company, even though the job offered lower pay.
One day, she gets a text from an old coworker: "You won’t believe this—he finally got caught in a scandal and was fired. Total disgrace."
She smirks and lets out a deep breath. She tells herself it's just relief, but the satisfaction lingers. That night, she toasts his downfall.
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Jessica had watched in silence as a popular pastor built an empire on charisma and power. She knew the truth—he had manipulated, belittled, and spiritually abused people, but no one seemed to care. Then, the accusations finally went public. More victims came forward. The megachurch collapsed overnight.
As she scrolled through the headlines, she thought: "Good. Let him feel what it’s like to be powerless." She screenshots the news and texts it to an old friend with a single emoji—a laughing face.
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Molly had silently endured her father’s abuse. It was kind that left scars—physical, emotional, and spiritual. When she finally escaped, she carried the weight of it every single day. Therapy helped, but the nightmares never fully went away. The thought of him still out there, living his life, made her sick. Then one day, the call came. Her father was dead.
She paused, waiting for some kind of emotion to hit her. Which ones would be appropriate?
Was it right to feel sad? Was relief appropriate? Satisfaction? Joy?
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How does Proverbs 24:17 speak to when a prideful boss is fired, a deceptive pastor is exposed, or the abusive father dies?
What if we changed our story to a people that had been oppressed by another nation for 400 years. God paved the way for them to finally get free, and they ran. But the oppressor kept pursuing. In that pursuit, the mighty Egyptian army—the one who had enslaved their families for generation—were drowned in the sea. The Israelites responded with joy. Voices rose, tambourines clashed, feet danced, and Miriam led them in song.
Is this somehow different than Megan’s response? Or Jessica’s? Or Molly’s? That’s a tough one. We know from the story of the Exodus 15 (as well as places like Psalm 58:10-11, Psalm 135:15, and Revelation 18:20, 19:1-3 among others places), that at times rejoicing over the downfall of an enemy is not only permitted but expected. What is the difference?
I think we instinctively know that there is a type of gloating over the downfall of another that is inappropriate. And there is another kind of joy/gloating/relief that is a fitting response to God’s execution of justice. But what is that line? How do we know when we cross it? Here are a few diagnostic questions to consider:
1. Am I rejoicing in God's justice or in someone's pain?
Was Megan celebrating the humiliation of her boss, or that wrongdoing was being exposed? The Israelites sang about God’s victory, not Egypt’s suffering.
2. Does this make me more humble or more self-righteous?
Was Jessica’s emoji, mocking the fall, an indication of her own self-righteousness? Maybe. The Israelites exalted God’s power, not their own superiority. Would I still be happy if they repented instead of being judged?
3. Would I still be happy if they repented instead of being judged?
That can be tricky to navigate for someone like Molly. What does repentance even look like? It’s much easier to keep someone in the category of a monster when they’ve done monstrous things to you. But Jonah was mad when Nineveh repented, and God called him on it.
4. Am I responding in a way that reflects God's character?
Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s coming destruction, even though judgment was deserved. Does Megan’s toast or Jessica’s emoji reflect God’s character? It might. But we also hear God saying, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked.” (Ezekiel 33:11)
There is a difference between rejoicing in justice and taking pleasure in another’s downfall. When justice restores what is right, it is appropriate to praise God. But when we begin to actively rejoice in the suffering of another, we’re no better than the person who oppressed us.