Evil Rejoicing

"But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil." (James 4: 16 KJV)

There is such a thing as "rejoicing in iniquity," of being happy in sin, or what is called "enjoying the pleasures of sin." (Hebrews 11: 25) Happiness is not a sign of godliness, for much of human joy and happiness is in evil things, in sin, and in falsehood. Those who rejoice in God and in the truth do not practice "rejoicing in iniquity." Charity, or the divine love, is characterized as that which "rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth." (I Corinthians 13: 6)

It is a characteristic of sinners to enjoy their pride, to receive joy from their braggings (boastings). Men live from day to day for the praises they can receive from other men. Men enjoy having their "egos" stroked, enjoy being the "head" rather than the "tail." Sinners rejoice in evil things.

"If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much..If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him." (Job 31: 25, 29 KJV)

"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 KJV)

This is an example of "evil boasting," or of "rejoicing in iniquity," of taking "pleasure in wickedness" (Psalm 5: 4 KJV). To get happy when misfortune or ill befalls another is to commit a great sin and to displease the Lord greatly.

"Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1: 32 KJV)

"That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thessalonians 2: 12 KJV)

Clearly, the thing that is most characteristic of the lost depraved sinner is the fact that he takes delight in sin, that he enjoys what is evil, that he has "pleasure in unrighteousness," and indulges in the "pleasures of sin." The thing the sinner needs is to be saved from himself, from his evil nature that takes such a delight in sin. God must renew his nature, give him a new heart, one that loves righteousness and truth, and despises sin and falsehood. It is part of the depraved fallen nature of the sinner to "delight in lies" (Psalm 62: 4 KJV).

"As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him." (Psalm 109: 17 KJV)

The sinner, by nature, habit, and practice, is one who "loves," and "delights in" cursing, and in disobedience to God and his laws. He has no natural relish or taste for God, truth, or righteousness. Sinners are a "people that delight in war" (Psalm 68: 30 KJV) too, for "war is in his heart." (Psalm 55: 21 KJV) Those who "love cursing" cannot expect to receive divine "blessing."

"Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked." (Proverbs 2: 13, 14 KJV)

The sinner has a nature that is "attracted to" and "fond of" sin. He "drinks iniquity like water." (Job 15: 16 KJV) He, simply put, "rejoices to do evil."

Did sin not have some pleasure or joy connected with it, no one would ever sin. Oh yes, there are pains associated with sin, but these generally come later, when God's judgment and wrath is experienced and one reaps the sad consequences of their sinful delights.

Included in man's sinful attraction to sin and evil, is his love of falsehood and of lies, and of their hatred for the truth, especially the truth about themselves. Truly, "their soul delighteth in their abominations." (Isaiah 66: 3 KJV).

"For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another." (Titus 3: 3 KJV)

"...Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God..." (II Timothy 3: 4 KJV)

What a deplorable and depraved condition is the sinner who is living a life of sin, a life of hate, a life of malice and envy! He is naturally hedonistic, loving pleasures, yea, sinful pleasures, and taking no delight in God, truth, or in righteousness. Man, because of sin, has made himself the center of the universe, having dethroned God, saying "we will not have this man (Jesus) to rule over us."

"Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter." (James 5: 5 KJV)

"But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." (I Timothy 5: 6 KJV)

It would not be said as a detriment were it said of man that he "lived in love to God," or that he "delighted" in pleasures of righteousness, but to live in worldly pleasures, especially sinful pleasures, is what is here condemned. Those who live in this fashion are they who are spiritually "dead" to God and to righteousness. Their spiritual "taste buds" are "dead," and they cannot taste what is good, but only what is evil. The sinner by his steady course of delighting himself in what is contrary to God and his word, is simply "treasuring up" to himself increased wrath (Romans 2: 5 KJV) and fattening himself up for the kill, as James said.

"This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand." (Zephaniah 2: 15 KJV)

"Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children." (Isaiah 47: 8 KJV)

"And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." (Luke 8: 14 KJV)

To live in worldy and carnal pleasure should not be the end and or ultimate aim of a person. To do so is to condemn one's soul. One cannot "neglect" God and his word, and righteousness, or salvation (Hebrews 2: 3), and have it "go well" with him when he dies and faces God in awful judgment. (Hebrews 9: 27)

"How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?" (Proverbs 1: 22 KJV)

"A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." (Proverbs 18: 2 KJV)

This is just more testimony concerning how man is in love with untruth, and with lies and falsehood, especially as it concerns his relation to God. For a man to go from hating God, truth, and righteousness, to loving the same, is truly a radical transformation, and this is exactly what God has done for the sinner who has been saved by Christ.

"You have made men like fish in the sea, like sea creatures that have no ruler. The wicked foe pulls all of them up with hooks, he catches them in his net, he gathers them up in his dragnet; and so he rejoices and is glad." (Habakkuk 1: 14, 15 NIV)

There are those ministers of Christ who are sent out as spiritual "fishermen" to "catch" souls for Christ and the truth. The "nets" that are used correspond to the saving gospel of Christ. But, Satan also has his "messengers" and "ministers" who also are "fishermen" and "hunters" and "gatherers" of souls. Every man is caught in the net of the devil, in the "dragnet" of sin. The only hope for such a sinner is to be "rescued" by the Lord through one of his sent "fishermen."

The servants of Satan who teach his falsehoods to men are they who rejoice and are happy when they can thus ensnare the souls and minds of sinners. They rejoice when they can cause sinners to fall. Such is an evil rejoicing.

"Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased." (Psalm 4: 7 KJV)

Oh how sinners rejoice and are glad when they can indulge their depraved appetites! But, the joy and happiness of the Christian, of the one who walks with God and obeys his word, and who rejoices in the truth, is vastly superior!