“The Lord hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.”
The LORD has done what he purposed; he has carried out his threat; as he ordained long ago, he has demolished without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you, and exalted the might of your foes—the verse returns from enemies' speech to affirmation that God has deliberately executed the judgment God threatened. The reference to God's ancient ordinance suggests this was written into covenant law long ago (Deuteronomy 28-29); this is not surprise but fulfillment of threatened consequence. Yet the statement that God "has made the enemy rejoice" and "exalted the might of your foes" raises a theological problem: does God's justice require exalting enemies and humiliating Israel? Theologically, the verse affirms divine will and sovereignty while raising the question of whether divine justice serves to strengthen enemies and weaken covenant people. The balance between God's justice and God's concern for Israel's welfare seems to tilt toward judgment without mercy.
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