7 Insights on the Downfall of Evildoers and the Power of Hashem in Our World

1. "When the Wicked Perish, There Is Joy"

"When the wicked perish, there is rejoicing" (Proverbs 11:10), declares King Solomon. Throughout the Tanach, numerous verses express this same principle.

2. When God Punishes the Wicked, His Name Is Glorified

Commenting on the verse: "I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen" (Exodus 14:17–18),

Rashi explains that when the Holy One, blessed be He, executes judgment upon the wicked, His Name is magnified and honored.

Rashi cites additional verses to illustrate this principle. In Ezekiel 38, God declares: "I will execute judgment upon him with pestilence and bloodshed. I will rain torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur upon him, upon his troops, and upon the many peoples with him."

Immediately afterward, Scripture states: "Thus I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 38:22–23).

3. "I Am the Lord, and There Is None Besides Me"

The Metzudot commentary explains this verse:

"At that time I will be exalted, sanctified, and made known before many nations, and everyone will recognize that I am the Lord, and there is none besides Me."

4. God Demonstrates His Sovereignty Above Nature

The Malbim comments on the words: "I will rain upon him torrential rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur."

These are miraculous, heavenly punishments that clearly reveal the hand of God.

He explains that through these supernatural events, people recognize God's greatness and understand that all causes originate with Him. They also recognize that He is holy, transcending the laws of nature and demonstrating His mastery over creation through signs and wonders. As a result, "I will make Myself known before many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord."

5. Another Proof from Psalms

Rashi also cites Psalm 76 as evidence: "There He shattered the flaming arrows of the bow, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war."

Earlier in the same psalm, it declares: "God is known in Judah; His Name is great in Israel."

The defeat of the enemies of Israel reveals God's greatness and makes His Name known.

6. When the Wicked Perish, We Praise God

The final verse of Psalm 104 states: "May sinners cease from the earth, and may the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah."

At first glance, this verse seems unrelated to the rest of the psalm, which celebrates creation and the natural world.

However, King David concludes that the harmony and perfection of creation are fully realized only when wickedness is removed from the world. Therefore, he ends the psalm by praising God: "May sinners cease from the earth, and may the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah."

7. David Did Not Say "Hallelujah" Until He Witnessed the Downfall of the Wicked

The Talmud (Berachot 9b) teaches: "Rabbi Yehudah, the son of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, said: David composed one hundred and three chapters before he first said 'Hallelujah.' He did not say 'Hallelujah' until he witnessed the downfall of the wicked, as it is written: 'May sinners cease from the earth, and may the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah.'"

A Time for Gratitude

We should express profound gratitude to God, whose mighty and saving hand is ultimately responsible for delivering His people from those who seek to destroy them.

The elimination of Hassan Nasrallah, who led countless acts of terror and brought suffering to so many, serves as a reminder that God watches over His people. While the enemy repeatedly threatened Israel's security, divine providence turned the situation on its head. Instead of living in constant fear, we have been granted a measure of relief.

Every blow dealt to those who seek our destruction is another reminder of God's ongoing providence over the Jewish people. We are therefore called upon to offer heartfelt thanks for both the open miracles we witness and the hidden miracles that continually sustain us.