Gloating over victory

“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” - Proverbs 24v17-18

This is an interesting passage – “do not rejoice when your enemy falls.” We want to ask ourselves, “Surely we can rejoice over victories won?” God makes it clear that when His enemies are defeated it is a cause for rejoicing, It is apparent here that God is talking about proud gloating when our enemy is defeated.

There is Biblical rejoicing when God gives a victory and there is prideful gloating when we attribute a victory to ourselves. It is the latter that God is talking about. I think this scene from Shakespeare’s Henry V depicts what God is talking about here. The setting is right after the battle of Agincourt, Henry and Fluellen have just heard the results of the battle and are waking off the battlefield.

KING HENRY V
Come, go we in procession to the village.
And be it death proclaimed through our host
To boast of this or take the praise from God
Which is his only.
FLUELLEN
Is it not lawful, an please your majesty, to tell
how many is killed?
KING HENRY V
Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgement,
That God fought for us.

This is the kind of attitude I think expects in victory – not a prideful gloating, but a humble acceptance of His working.