John Owen, an English Puritan of the 1600s, had the opportunity to preach before Parliament the day after King Charles I was executed for treason. Owen was a minister who’d sided with Parliament over and against the King. You’d think when he had opportunity to address his fellow partisans the day after a major “victory” such as this, he’d raise the party line and rejoice, right?
Not only did Owen hold his peace about the events of the day before, he didn’t even mention them—not one reference. Instead, Owen preached repentance and humility.
Owen’s holy restraint instructs us. When leaders fall, we may be tempted to gloat. But there’s a difference between gloating, that is, rejoicing at the misfortune of others, and rejoicing at God overcoming evil. Gloating is contrary to God’s desires. He “does not delight in the death of the wicked” but would rather they turn from their evil ways and live (Ezek. 33:11). Yet, when God answers prayers that wickedness be exposed and removed, is rejoicing at the downfall of others ever appropriate? Surely it’s fitting to give thanks to God when he’s justly dealt with wrongs—but to relish someone else’s demise ought not be among the responses of the righteous.
Mourn an Enemy’s Destruction
We’re met with a similar situation to that of Owen’s in 2 Samuel 1, when King Saul finally receives his deserved end.
David, the rightful and anointed king of God’s people, gets news of Saul’s death at the hand of the Philistines days after it happens. The man after God’s own heart had been mistreated and abused by the Old Testament antichrist figure for what seemed like a lifetime, but David doesn’t rejoice at the news of his oppressor’s demise. Just the opposite. The rightful king tears his clothes, fasts, and mourns over the death of the one the Lord once anointed. It appears a strange scene given David’s history with Saul.
David, like Owen, exemplifies a better response than celebrating the destruction of sinful men who once professed to be among the Lord’s people. Proverbs 24:17–18 counsels us, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the LORD see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.”
Overcome Evil with Good
These are sober words of warning. Our calling is never to gloat over enemies, even when the Lord brings about his right judgment.
Do we not hear the echo of Solomon’s wisdom as it appears in Romans 12? Paul quotes Proverbs and applies it by saying, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (vv 20–21).
Our calling is never to gloat over enemies, even when the Lord brings about his right judgment.
The Scriptures call us to an interesting balance. Paul tells us not to seek our own vengeance, for God alone avenges. He then doubles down by telling us to do good to our enemies, so that we might heap further judgment upon the wicked. When we do good to our enemies, we’re demonstrating the same general benevolence our Father in heaven has toward both the righteous and the wicked (Matt. 5:45), and as both Romans 12 and Proverbs 24 reveal, if we continue to speak what’s true and right and peaceable, such a posture increases the earthly judgment upon the wicked.
Guard the Church’s Witness
But there’s another reason why David didn’t raise the banner of celebration over the downfall of Saul: he didn’t want the Lord’s enemies to gloat as well. When David laments the death of his wicked oppressor, he says, “Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon.” He goes on to give us the reason: “Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult” (2 Sam. 1:20).
Friends, the world is watching the church—whether we know it or not, whether it appears like they are or not. The world wants nothing more than for the church to be found false. So when God’s people look no different than leaders in the world, the enemies of the cross mock. David, therefore, is distancing himself from worldly gloating lest he’s seen as abetting, or even joining in one accord with unbelievers, in celebrating the tearing down of God’s people.
Friends, the world is watching the church—whether we know it or not. And the world wants nothing more than for the church to be found false.
We should be sorrowful when leaders choose the wrong path (2 Sam. 1:21, 24). They were freely offered a different road, but they opted for the wide and easy one instead. Though we may continue to hear news of how the mighty have fallen, let’s not rejoice in their undoing.
Instead, like Christ upon the cross, let’s return good for evil (Ps. 109:5; Luke 23:34). Let’s be remorseful that this outcome was necessary. Let’s examine our own hearts and walk in personal repentance and humble reliance upon the Lord Jesus. And in the meantime, tell it not in Gath.