Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.
Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Psalms 58 is a powerful and poignant prayer, categorized as one of the "imprecatory" psalms, where David cries out to God for justice against wicked rulers and judges. Understanding the context and David's emotional state is key to grasping the psalm's message. It is believed that David penned this psalm during a period of exile, likely during the tumultuous later years of Saul's reign. He witnessed firsthand the corruption and injustice perpetrated by those in power and, driven by deep pain and righteous anger, he implores God to intervene. This psalm isn't a call to personal vengeance, but a desperate plea for divine justice to prevail.
The Indictment of Unrighteous Leaders (Psalms 58:1-5)
David begins by directly challenging the "mighty ones" – the unrighteous justices and leaders of his time. He questions their integrity, asking, "Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?" (Psalms 58:1). These leaders, who should have been acting as God's representatives, administering justice and righteousness, had instead become instruments of evil. They plotted wickedness and meted out violence (Psalms 58:2). Their failure to uphold their accountability before God is the core of David's complaint.
David vividly portrays the inherent corruption of these men, comparing them to venomous snakes, deliberately ignoring the charmer's music (Psalms 58:4-5). The imagery emphasizes that their wickedness wasn't born of ignorance or misunderstanding, but a conscious and enthusiastic choice to reject God's law. Despite knowing the right path, they intentionally veered towards evil. As Psalms 51:5 and Romans 3:10, 23 remind us, all are tainted by sin, but these leaders are characterized by their deliberate embrace of it.
A Plea for Divine Intervention (Psalms 58:6-9)
Driven by a desire for immediate justice, David passionately pleads with God to execute divine judgment upon these evildoers. His words are stark and graphic, reflecting the depth of his anguish. He asks God to "break the teeth in their mouths" and "tear out the fangs of the lions" (Psalms 58:6), symbolizing the removal of their power to inflict further harm. The imagery continues with prayers that they would vanish like water seeping into the ground, that their arrows would miss their mark, and that they would not see the sun (Psalms 58:7-8).
David’s vivid language, comparing the fate he desires for these evildoers to creatures decomposing into slime or a miscarried infant, might seem harsh to modern readers. However, it is essential to understand that these are not calls for personal revenge but desperate prayers for God to act swiftly and decisively to end the reign of injustice. He asks for the Lord to act with speed, bringing this fate immediately (Psalms 58:9).
The Vindication of the Righteous (Psalms 58:10-11)
David anticipates a time when God's dramatic justice will be evident for all to see. He believes that the execution of divine justice would be like a whirlwind sweeping away the wicked and bringing great rejoicing to God’s people (Psalms 58:9-10). He envisions the righteous rejoicing at the sight of God's justice, acknowledging His righteous rule (Psalms 58:10).
The psalm concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's sovereignty and justice. David declares, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth" (Psalms 58:11). The judgment of God against evil is a reward for the righteous (Psalms 58:11). This is not merely a statement of belief but a confident assertion that God will ultimately set all things right. All sin will be punished, either in the cross of Christ, or at the final judgment.
Lessons for Today
Psalms 58, while rooted in a specific historical context, speaks to timeless issues of injustice and the longing for divine intervention. It reminds us that:
- God sees injustice: He is not blind to the wickedness perpetrated by those in power, and He is ultimately accountable.
- Prayer is a powerful weapon: Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, we can cry out to God for justice and deliverance.
- God's justice will prevail: While we may not always see immediate results, we can trust that God will ultimately right all wrongs.
While the imprecatory nature of this psalm may be challenging for some, it is essential to recognize the raw emotion and desperation that fueled David's prayer. It serves as a reminder that God is a God of justice, and He will ultimately hold all accountable for their actions. As believers, we can find comfort in knowing that the day will finally come when the Lord will set all things right.
Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.
Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Psalms 58 is a powerful and poignant prayer, categorized as one of the "imprecatory" psalms, where David cries out to God for justice against wicked rulers and judges. Understanding the context and David's emotional state is key to grasping the psalm's message. It is believed that David penned this psalm during a period of exile, likely during the tumultuous later years of Saul's reign. He witnessed firsthand the corruption and injustice perpetrated by those in power and, driven by deep pain and righteous anger, he implores God to intervene. This psalm isn't a call to personal vengeance, but a desperate plea for divine justice to prevail.
The Indictment of Unrighteous Leaders (Psalms 58:1-5)
David begins by directly challenging the "mighty ones" – the unrighteous justices and leaders of his time. He questions their integrity, asking, "Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?" (Psalms 58:1). These leaders, who should have been acting as God's representatives, administering justice and righteousness, had instead become instruments of evil. They plotted wickedness and meted out violence (Psalms 58:2). Their failure to uphold their accountability before God is the core of David's complaint.
David vividly portrays the inherent corruption of these men, comparing them to venomous snakes, deliberately ignoring the charmer's music (Psalms 58:4-5). The imagery emphasizes that their wickedness wasn't born of ignorance or misunderstanding, but a conscious and enthusiastic choice to reject God's law. Despite knowing the right path, they intentionally veered towards evil. As Psalms 51:5 and Romans 3:10, 23 remind us, all are tainted by sin, but these leaders are characterized by their deliberate embrace of it.
A Plea for Divine Intervention (Psalms 58:6-9)
Driven by a desire for immediate justice, David passionately pleads with God to execute divine judgment upon these evildoers. His words are stark and graphic, reflecting the depth of his anguish. He asks God to "break the teeth in their mouths" and "tear out the fangs of the lions" (Psalms 58:6), symbolizing the removal of their power to inflict further harm. The imagery continues with prayers that they would vanish like water seeping into the ground, that their arrows would miss their mark, and that they would not see the sun (Psalms 58:7-8).
David’s vivid language, comparing the fate he desires for these evildoers to creatures decomposing into slime or a miscarried infant, might seem harsh to modern readers. However, it is essential to understand that these are not calls for personal revenge but desperate prayers for God to act swiftly and decisively to end the reign of injustice. He asks for the Lord to act with speed, bringing this fate immediately (Psalms 58:9).
The Vindication of the Righteous (Psalms 58:10-11)
David anticipates a time when God's dramatic justice will be evident for all to see. He believes that the execution of divine justice would be like a whirlwind sweeping away the wicked and bringing great rejoicing to God’s people (Psalms 58:9-10). He envisions the righteous rejoicing at the sight of God's justice, acknowledging His righteous rule (Psalms 58:10).
The psalm concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's sovereignty and justice. David declares, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth" (Psalms 58:11). The judgment of God against evil is a reward for the righteous (Psalms 58:11). This is not merely a statement of belief but a confident assertion that God will ultimately set all things right. All sin will be punished, either in the cross of Christ, or at the final judgment.
Lessons for Today
Psalms 58, while rooted in a specific historical context, speaks to timeless issues of injustice and the longing for divine intervention. It reminds us that:
- God sees injustice: He is not blind to the wickedness perpetrated by those in power, and He is ultimately accountable.
- Prayer is a powerful weapon: Even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, we can cry out to God for justice and deliverance.
- God's justice will prevail: While we may not always see immediate results, we can trust that God will ultimately right all wrongs.
While the imprecatory nature of this psalm may be challenging for some, it is essential to recognize the raw emotion and desperation that fueled David's prayer. It serves as a reminder that God is a God of justice, and He will ultimately hold all accountable for their actions. As believers, we can find comfort in knowing that the day will finally come when the Lord will set all things right.