Should We Rejoice When Wicked People Die

Death is final for everyone.  For the saved death means the end of our service here on earth and the beginning of eternal life and joy in Heaven with Jesus.  Hallelujah!!!  For the unrepentant and lost however, death means no further opportunity for salvation and thus an eternal separation from God.  Once each of us have crossed that threshold of death there is no return to life here and so whatever we do we must do before we crossed that line.

Over the years I have seen the reactions of people to the death of the wicked.  Their reactions very from great sorrow and tears to great rejoicing and almost celebration.  Now it is true that when wicked people who impact our lives pass into eternity, our lives become easier in some ways, but should we rejoice when wicked people die?

Let’s look at Scripture for an answer.

David had been chosen by God to be Israel’s next king and Saul knew that we the case.  Saul had tried to kill David on various occasions and even chased after David in a vain attempt to alter God’s plan.  David knew Saul was against him and that Saul had done wickedly in many areas, yet, David refused to raise his hand agains the “Lord’s anointed.”  But as 2 Samuel opens we find David being told that Saul and Jonathan have died and a young Amalekite says that he has ended Saul’s life.  This young Amalekite lies to David, as Saul had died by his own hand in 1 Samuel 31:4.  This youth’s claim is because he thought David would rejoice in the death of his antagonist and even had brought the crown and bracelet of Saul as proof of his deed.

However, David’s reaction is very different than the young man expected, as David says, “How wast thou not afraid to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” (2 Samuel 1:14).  And in this question we find the reason why David did not raise his hand against Saul and really what the concept seeking harm to the “Lord’s anointed” really is all about.  

More about that is a moment.  First let’s look at another event that shows David’s heart about the death of the wicked as it all fits together.

We fast forward into 2 Samuel and now we find that David has become king of Judah and is trying to reunify the splintered nation.  However, there are those who think that unifying the nation is going to take the destruction of Saul’s entire heritage.  As a result of this philosophy, Joab kills Abner (2 Samuel 3:27), Saul’s general, and some are even seeking to destroy all remaining family members of the former king.  It is in this context we come to 2 Samuel 4 where we find two men Rechab and Baanah killing Saul’s last son, Ishbosheth, and proudly coming to David to announce their actions.  David’s response is swift as he has these two men immediately executed for slaying “a righteous person” (2 Samuel 4:11 &12).  David clearly knew something that these two men and the young Amalekite that “killed” the previous king did not accept.

We should NEVER rejoice in the death of anyone!  Ezekiel 18:23 makes God’s heart clear, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”  Notice the last phrase…”return from his ways, and live?”  This means that God wants to give people the opportunity to repent of their sin and go forward doing right.  God wants EVERY person to repent…even those we deem wicked.

For us today, we must see every soul as precious in God’s sight and this means that when a wicked person dies, we must not rejoice but sorrow as their opportunity to repent is gone.  We should never have the mindset that they got what they deserve because that might mean we truly may not understand forgiveness (Matthew 6:15) as WE ALL deserve hell and death (Romans 3:23 & 6:23).  

Does this mean no death penalty? Of course not, as governments are commanded by God to take life for life (Genesis 9:5 & 6).  Should we stop all wars?  No, because that is not possible as God commands the righteous nations to defend themselves against those who would destroy the life of its people (1 Samuel 15:8 & Romans 3:10-18).  But we must NEVER think that the death of the wicked is some how worth celebrating.

This morning I read the headlines where one state last night executed two men who had been found guilty of murder.  These men justly suffered the penalty for their crimes, but I refuse to “rejoice” over their deaths, because they went into eternity possibly without Christ and why should I rejoice in it?  They were put to death by law and that is justice, but grace still would have save their souls if they had repented.

Why did David not raise his hand against Saul?  Fear!  David asked the young Amalekite in 2 Samuel 1:14, “How wast thou not AFRAID?”  Either David was afraid of having God judge him for taking Saul’s life when it was not his to take or that David feared taking Saul’s life before the king could repent.  Either way, would we not do well to learn for this example?