Number 24: Proverbs 24:17

 "Don't rejoice when your enemies fall; don't be happy when they stumble."

Pro 24:17 NLT

It goes on to say in verse 18

"For the LORD will be displeased with you and will turn his anger away from them." 

Motivating. Pretty cut in dry "don't do this or this is the consequence." I don't think anyone relishes the idea of God being angry with them. But let's back up, because I find it even more interesting that in verse 16 it says,

"The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked."

Sure, it could be argued (successfully because it's true...) that the point of the verse is the patience and perseverance inherent in the godly man, the fruit of the spirit evident in his actions compared to the wicked BUT isn't it poignant that this is the lead in? It's pretty easy to get all high and mighty on our godly-awesomeness.  so much so that when our enemy falls we relish it. Of course he fell! He was wicked, he deserved it, he had it coming, etc. Who did he think he was going up against you, godly awesome person, anyway? My mom used to say, "Pride goeth before the fall."If you're rejoicing in the enemy falling, you're prideful, which is falling too. Yeah... God points out the truth in verse 16. We all stumble. The godly stumble just as much if not more than the wicked (seven times verses once).

But here is the little nugget that I think really ties the three verses together. In verse 16, the difference between the godly man and the wicked one is how they respond to a fall. The godly man gets back up, over and over, keeps going, keeps trying. Not the wicked one. And I think this is not just a testament of the strength and hope God has given the godly man, motivating him to rise again; it's also an observation of the weakness of the wicked man. Why would this be important?

It's obviously not to gloat that difference, because in the following two verses we are warned that if we do that then God's displeasure will turn from the wicked to us. Should our observance of this stop at the self-application? I know it's taken me a long time to come round to the point, but I believe that God is pointing out the weakness of the wicked, our enemy, not so that we can selfishly compare ourselves to them and work on correcting our own lives alone but to have grace and mercy with them, as He does, because they are so very weak.

The real point is Love. He is giving us a glimpse into his heart for the world and warning us to not be full of ourselves, because through our relationship we are blessed with the hope and strength to keep going. They aren't and that is heartbreaking. God is ever striving toward them, longing to help them, to love them; and that's what he wants from us, not for us to let the poison of bitterness and pride seperate our hearts from His.