At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)
“Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 17:5).
The Germans have a special word to describe the sin that this proverb targets. That word is schadenfreude, and it means to take pleasure or joy in the misfortune of another. For some, this is vindictive or vengeful, and would apply when the one suffering the misfortunate was an adversary of some sort. But for others it is more general. The person who takes this pleasure is simply someone who likes to hear about disasters.
This sin is addressed by the second half of the proverb. The one who rejoices over misfortunes is going to be punished for it. Even in the circumstance mentioned earlier, where the joy is brought about by the downfall of an enemy . . . even there we are cautioned.
“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 24:17–18).
This expression of the principle assumes that it is likely the case that your enemy needs to receive what he is getting, and one of the reasons for not gloating is that the Lord might see that and lay off.
The first part of the proverb addresses what seems to be simple unkindness or cruelty. Someone is poor, and the mocker comes to add insult to injury. This kind of cruelty loves to punch down, and the Scriptures will have none of it.
“Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:14).
The Lord is tender toward the poor and downtrodden, and He expects the very same demeanor from us.
