Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:--Proverbs 24:17
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep....Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved,avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.--Romans 12:14-17, 19-21
David truly understood these verses...he lived them.
"Do the sorrows of your adversaries make you happy?" Do you rejoice when an ill wind blows their way? Sadly in my flesh, I am very guilty of this...but then I remember my God. I remember His great love and mercy towards me. I remember that He loved me and died for me when I was yet His enemy..when I was dead in trespasses and sins. If this is you also, take heart and look to David's example.
Saul's treatment of David was demonic and yet David praised him and treated him with respect and kindness. David did not do evil to those who did evil to him. He overcame evil with good and left vengeance and retribution to His God. The psalmist believed God's promise that he would be the King of Israel some day and obeyed even when all told him otherwise ....even when darkness and despair surrounded him. David understood that he could not control the people or his circumstances, but he could control his responses to them. David placed His trust in God and went from strength to strength. I so want to walk as David walked, by faith and not by sight...obeying and waiting on His Lord.
The most encouraging part of David's story, however, is that he did not do this perfectly...and that in itself provides me (us) with yet another great example. When David failed and fell, he sought His God...He sought His mercy, forgiveness and grace. In His weakness, David allowed the Lord to be strong and God in His infinite mercy and grace used him to fulfill HIs purposes and to reveal Himself to not only the people around David but to us as well.
