28 “For they are a nation [i]lacking in counsel,
And there is no understanding in them.
29 “Would that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would discern their [j]future!
30 “How could one chase a thousand,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the Lord had given them up?
31 “Indeed their rock is not like our Rock,
Even our enemies [k]themselves judge this.
32 “For their vine is from the vine of Sodom,
And from the fields of Gomorrah;
Their grapes are grapes of poison,
Their clusters, bitter.
33 “Their wine is the venom of [l]serpents,
And the [m]deadly poison of cobras.
34 ‘Is it not laid up in store with Me,
Sealed up in My treasuries?
35 ‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’
36 “For the Lord will vindicate His people,
And will have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their [n]strength is gone,
And there is none remaining, bond or free.
37 “And He will say, ‘Where are their gods,
The rock in which they sought refuge?
38 ‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you,
Let them be your hiding place!
39 ‘See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
40 ‘Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven,
And say, as I live forever,
41 If I sharpen My [o]flashing sword,
And My hand takes hold on justice,
I will render vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
42 ‘I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
And My sword will devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the long-haired [p]leaders of the enemy.’
43 “Rejoice, O nations, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”
The song finally turns to redemption, when God rescues his people and serves judgment on their adversaries. But it ends with an interesting twist, “Rejoice, O nations, with His people…”
Who would rejoice with the people of God, except those who were on their side, those who acknowledged God? For surely their enemies, who have been defeated and served justice, will not be rejoicing in that day.
But those who love and serve God will rejoice when He rescues His people, the Israelites, from the hand of their adversaries. All of them will then be called “His people” and will live in eternity with Him.
There are only two sides in this life, those who choose God, and those who scorn Him. To think that scorning His free gift should somehow not be punished is to lack common sense. Seek His face, turn from your own ways, and follow His way.