Reading:                                     Psalm 35

 (Verses 26-28)

May all who gloat over my distress     

be put to shame and confusion;

may all who exalt themselves over me     

be clothed with shame and disgrace.

May those who delight in my vindication     

shout for joy and gladness;

may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,     

who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,     

your praises all day long. (NIV)

Reflection

Psalm 35 draws to a close with this warning against Schadenfreude: May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.

David Kitz as the Centurion

So what is Schadenfreude you ask? Dictionary.com defines Schadenfreude as satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else’s misfortune. It is a compound German word: Schaden harm + Freude joy. In other words, Schadenfreude is the joy you may feel when hearing about another person’s calamity. Schadenfreude can be viewed as the ladder-climber’s delight in seeing others fall behind. Far too often it manifests in the false assumption that we can advance ourselves by putting others down. The truth is we advance ourselves by advancing others. Advancing by putdowns has no firm foundation and usually ends badly because pride precedes a fall, just as darkness follows sunset.

Are you exalting yourself at the expense of others? If so, take some time to repent. Do your best to repair the damaged relationships that result from such behavior.

Paul, the apostle, gives us this advice: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited (Romans12:14-16).

Take joy in the success of others rather than resenting their achievements. Let their successes ignite within you a desire for self-improvement. With God’s help change what you can within yourself before looking to change others. We all have a room in our heart that needs some renovation.

Then with David we can rejoice when others succeed. May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.”

Response: Father God, give me a heart of thanksgiving. Grant me a pure heart with pure motives. May I always delight in the well-being of your servants. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you suffer from a bad case of Schadenfreude?