August 25: Don't Laugh!

Ezekiel 25:1-17, 29:1-16, 30:1-26, 31:1-18

Ezekiel 25:1-7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

25 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,

2 Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.

3 And say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord God, for thus says the Lord God: Because you said Aha! over My sanctuary when it was profaned and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate and over the house of Judah when it went into captivity and exile,

4 Therefore behold, I am delivering you to the people of the East for a possession, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings in your midst; they shall eat your fruit and they shall drink your milk.

5 And I will make Rabbah [your chief city] a stable for camels and [the cities of] the Ammonites a fold for flocks. And you shall know (understand and realize) that I am the Lord [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service].

6 For thus says the Lord God: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped with the feet and rejoiced [in heart] with all the contempt, malice, and spite that is in you against the land of Israel,

7 Therefore behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and will hand you over for a prey and a spoil to the nations, and I will cut you off from the peoples and will cause you to perish and be lost out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then will you know (understand and realize) that I am the Lord [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service].

Proverbs 24:17-18

Amplified Bible (AMP)

17 Rejoice not when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles or is overthrown,

18 Lest the Lord see it and it be evil in His eyes and displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him [to expend it upon you, the worse offender].

God is displeased when we delight in our enemy's misfortune. Even when He would agree with us that they have it coming!
We must tread softly and carefully on this earth, walking in the fear of the Lord.
We must be polite and kind to our enemies. And pray for our enemies. 

Matthew 5:44

King James Version (KJV)

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

"Dear God, Help me learn this truth from Your word today. When I inwardly chuckle at someone else's calamity, You are not pleased. I must stop that train of thought immediately! And repent. Lest something worse come my way. Give me a clean heart O God. Help me to love everyone, even those who hate me. That's a tough one. But if You command it, You will give me strength to do it. I worship You for You do all things well. I put my complete trust in You, O God. I pray this in Your precious name, the name of Jesus, AMEN.