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Day 293 (Proverbs 24:17-18) 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 displeases Him, and He turns away His wrath from him. Every day you hear news about people who did something wrong. Your reaction is to rejoice because they got caught and will stand trial. You hope they get the maximum sentence allowed by the law. Solomon said to not rejoice when people got caught committing crimes. He knew God’s law said vengeance belonged to God. (Deuteronomy 32:35-36) Vengeance is Mine, and recompense. Their feet shall slip in due time. For the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them. For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion for His servants, when He sees their power is gone, and there is no one remaining, bonded or free. It’s hard not to be happy when people are found out and stand trial. Yet, what about people who don’t do something bad enough to stand trial, but they do something against you? What do you do when you find out who wronged you? What do you do when you find out it was a member of your family? You don’t call the police, but you talk with them. Or do you turn your back on them? As Christians, God’s law hasn’t changed. If someone has done something against you, you are to take it to the Lord and let Him handle it. Jesus told the people what they were to do when someone wronged them. (Matthew 5:21-26) “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whomever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger from the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of hellfire. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary delivers you to the judge, the judge hands you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. (Luke 12:54-59) Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so, it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drags you to the judge, the judge delivers you to the officer, and the officer throws you into prison. I tell you; you will not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.” Solomon also said not to be hasty about going to court. (Proverbs 25:8-10) Do not go hastily to court. For what will you do in the end when your neighbor has put you to shame? Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another. Lest he who hears it exposes your shame, and your reputation be ruined. No matter who wronged you, turn it over to God and let Him handle your situation. Vengeance belongs to Him alone. It is not a time to rejoice because the person was found out. Instead, it is a time of grief that only God can make right. Let’s pray: Father, it’s hard not to take vengeance when someone does something wrong. Help me to put everything in Your hands and let You bring justice to my situation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 3 May 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay