Psalm 58

Psalm 58 has David again under attack.  He is dealing with the human judges who were passing a verdict against him.  “Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods”?  Do you judge the children of man uprightly?   David directed this Psalm against those who were rulers or judges in some sense. Some think they were leaders aligned with Saul who passed judgment on the fugitive David, condemning him to a death sentence as a traitor. David challenged these rulers and the uprightness of their decisions.

After questioning the words and justice of his enemies, David examined their intentions and their actions. Their intention was to work wickedness and in their actions they dispensed violence in the earth.  They are like venomous snakes that crawl around in an effort to kill those they can strike.  David wants God to remove them.  “O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord”.  He isn’t gentle or subtle about his desires – he wants them destroyed just as they are trying to destroy him.  David asked God to take away their deadly bite.

David prayed that God’s judgment would come upon his enemies like a flash of fire.  “Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away”!  David knows rejoicing in God’s victory over those who wickedly oppress him will be awesome.  He merely wants God to deal with them and sweep them far, far away.  He knows God is able, and trusts that God will do that for him.

And when God does, he’ll rejoice.  “The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance….Surely there is a reward for the righteous”.  David desired the world to see there was a moral order under God where righteousness is rewarded and wickedness is judged.  We will stand in front of God and face His judgment someday.  That’s why Jesus had to come – because we are unable to face that on our own merit.  We fall short and without the shed blood of a Savior will spend eternity separated from God.  We need His saving grace and mercy and love!