Don’t delight over the ruin of your enemy, or you risk losing the blessing of God’s just and merciful involvement in the situation.
“Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.” (v.18) appears in the Book of Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings largely attributed to King Solomon, who ruled Israel between 970 and 931 BC. This verse follows the admonishment to avoid rejoicing in the downfall of enemies. In other words, if someone takes delight in another person’s calamity, even if that person has done wrong, God may see the arrogant attitude and choose to withhold further judgment from the one who committed the wrong. The principle warns us that pride in someone else’s misfortune can cause us to lose sight of God’s justice and mercy. Rather than cheering another’s punishment, believers are invited to trust in the Lord’s perfect ways, reflecting His compassion rather than a triumphant or vengeful spirit.
By saying, “Or the LORD will see it and be displeased” (v.18), the proverb implies that God is personally involved in discerning motives of the heart. The warning that He may “turn His anger away from him” (v.18) underscores that gloating can hinder the very outcomes we might wrongly celebrate. This concept resonates with Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament to love our enemies (Luke 6:27) rather than rejoice in their troubles. Rather than focusing on someone else’s downfall, we are reminded to maintain integrity and humility, leaving final judgment to God. In so doing, we imitate His grace toward both the righteous and the unrighteous.
We should respond to others’ errors and sufferings with compassion, recognizing that God alone stands as the righteous judge, capable of restoring or withholding consequences as He sees fit.
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Proverbs 24:18 meaning
“Or the LORD will see it and be displeased, And turn His anger away from him.” (v.18) appears in the Book of Proverbs, a collection of wise sayings largely attributed to King Solomon, who ruled Israel between 970 and 931 BC. This verse follows the admonishment to avoid rejoicing in the downfall of enemies. In other words, if someone takes delight in another person’s calamity, even if that person has done wrong, God may see the arrogant attitude and choose to withhold further judgment from the one who committed the wrong. The principle warns us that pride in someone else’s misfortune can cause us to lose sight of God’s justice and mercy. Rather than cheering another’s punishment, believers are invited to trust in the Lord’s perfect ways, reflecting His compassion rather than a triumphant or vengeful spirit.
By saying, “Or the LORD will see it and be displeased” (v.18), the proverb implies that God is personally involved in discerning motives of the heart. The warning that He may “turn His anger away from him” (v.18) underscores that gloating can hinder the very outcomes we might wrongly celebrate. This concept resonates with Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament to love our enemies (Luke 6:27) rather than rejoice in their troubles. Rather than focusing on someone else’s downfall, we are reminded to maintain integrity and humility, leaving final judgment to God. In so doing, we imitate His grace toward both the righteous and the unrighteous.
We should respond to others’ errors and sufferings with compassion, recognizing that God alone stands as the righteous judge, capable of restoring or withholding consequences as He sees fit.