When Others Fall

Is it ever okay to feel quiet satisfaction when someone falls? When Tyre gloated over Jerusalem’s downfall, God’s answer was direct: “I am against you.”

“Tyre said … ‘Aha, the gate … is broken … I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste,’ therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Tyre, and will bring up many nations against you” (Ezekiel 26:2–3).

Tyre had become rich. This city on the coast of the Mediterranean had held out against attacks from Assyria and later, Babylon. As a seaport and commercial center, its merchants gained great wealth.

But these people also angered God. Why? Because they gloated over the misfortune of Jerusalem and all of Judah. They took advantage of them for their own purposes.

God knew that His people had sinned. They had worshipped idols and rejected His Word. They would reap what they had sown and receive inevitable judgment. But even though they were experiencing problems, they still were God’s people. He still had a plan for their lives. He reserved the right to judge them, if necessary, but He also would defend them and punish those who took advantage of them.

Gloating means that we take pleasure in the misfortune of others. In God’s sight, this is never acceptable. We may see others making mistakes or be aware of believers who have fallen into sin. But when we see these things, we are not to take pleasure. God wants us to be messengers of His love and healing, mercy and compassion.

Ask God to give you His wisdom and discernment and fill you with His love. Be ready to reach out to those who have sinned—the weary, proud, broken, rebellious, defiant, and deceived. Remember that God loves them. Be His messenger of compassion, mercy, and salvation.

Reflection Question: Are you showing compassion to those who have fallen into sin?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did God judge Tyre in Ezekiel 26?

Tyre gloated over Jerusalem’s fall, hoping to profit from it. God declared He was against them—showing that taking pleasure in another’s misfortune is never acceptable, even when that person is under discipline.

What does the Bible say about gloating?

Scripture treats rejoicing over others’ misfortune as sin. Instead of taking pleasure when someone falls—even in sin—God calls us to respond with His love, mercy, and compassion.