When not to take pleasure

Ezekiel 25-32 describes judgment on the nations surrounding Israel and Judah. After the narrative of the death of his wife, Ezekiel turns his attention to the nations which opposed Israel. Tyre and Egypt are given special attention, and their arrogance was condemned in the strongest terms. Israel and Judah have been judged for their wickedness, and God is no longer angry with them; He finds the arrogance and wickedness of the surrounding nations unacceptable and brings them to justice.

It is seldom appropriate to rejoice at the misfortune of others, and never simply out of spite. Although in Revelation the angels rejoice over the fall of Babylon, and people are glad when oppressors lose power, the misfortune of wicked people is occasion for mourning. Even though God Himself described Israel's wickedness in the strongest possible terms, the glee of Israel's neighbors at her punishment was entirely wrong.