Joy in Justice

I was glued to the screen last Saturday, trying to pick up all the details about what happened in “Operation Absolute Resolve.” While I find the details of Nicolás Maduro’s capture intriguing, it was the response from Venezuelans that mostly caught my eye. In several videos, reporters asked various Venezuelans who had immigrated to the United States what they thought. Their responses were that of relief, jubilation, & celebration. No one seemed sad, & everyone seemed thankful. Some even shed tears of joy. The scenes reminded me of the celebrations in NYC when Osama Bin Laden was killed. “USA! USA! USA!” was the chant. Americans rejoiced. How do we assess these responses? Let’s look at a few biblical passages.

Proverbs 11:10 offers us some helpful commentary on how these Venezuelans felt. It reads, “When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish [or, for this situation, are captured] there are shouts of gladness.” Notice the italicized part of this verse. Observe the response that occurs when the wicked are judged—shouts of gladness. “But,” you might respond, “doesn’t Proverbs tell us not to rejoice when our enemies fall?” Yes, it does. Proverbs 24:17 states, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” How do we synthesize these two verses? What God forbids is gloating (24:17); what God commends is rejoicing in justice (11:10). When an evil ruler who has suppressed thousands is removed, people rejoice. This response is good & acceptable & righteous.

My interpretation of the tears of joy I observed from many Venezuelans was exactly what Scripture teaches: “When the wicked perish [think: are captured] there are shouts of gladness.” We are never allowed to gloat, but we are called to delight in the righteousness of God Most High. Other portions of Scripture encourage us to rejoice when God executes His judgments upon the earth (e.g., Ps 97:8; Prov 21:15; Rev 19:1–2). These celebrations of justice are foretastes of what will come when Christ returns to the earth. What a party we will have on that day!

Pastor Chance Sumner