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STUDY 271

Text: Proverbs 24
3 September 2006

Dear Parents,

HOW DO YOU FEEL WHEN AN ENEMY FALLS?
How easy it is to feel happy when an enemy falls. The heart is “naturally” inclined to such feelings. We have a word of warning concerning this matter.

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him,
And He turn away His wrath from him.

Proverbs 24:17-18

1. Guard the heart from rejoicing when people fall

a) The enemy is still a fellow human being.

b) He can fall into very hard times too.

c) There should be no rejoicing when an enemy falls.

2. God is displeased when we rejoice wrongly

a) It is wrong to rejoice when people fall.

b) It is the prerogative of God to mete our judgment.

c) However, when God metes our judgment, He does so without glee.

d) He does not want His children to rejoice when enemies fall.

3. God can halt His discipline of the enemy

a) He can discipline; He can also withhold discipline.

b) He can cause the wicked to fall; He can also suspend judgment.

THE NOBLE EXAMPLE OF KING DAVID

King Saul was the sworn enemy of David. The latter was hounded by his nemesis relentlessly. Yet, when King Saul died in battle, David wrote a moving poem to express his sorrow at the death of his enemy (2 Samuel 1:17-27).

David exemplifies for us the kind of spirit that God is very pleased with. May we endeavour to teach our children to have the noblest of spirit.

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie