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Dave Burnette's Commentary

Psalm Chapter 58

Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: David, Asaph, Solomon, Heman, Ethan, Moses, and the Sons of Korah
Date Penned: (1440-586 BC)
Overview: Poetry for the Expression of Praise and Worship to God (c 1-150)
Theme: The Second Book of Psalms (c 42-72)
Message: A Prayer for God's Justice (v 1-11)

Psalms 58 Commentary
  

(58:1-11) A Cry for Justice - This is called an imprecatory psalm (see Psalms 35:1-28). It is a cry for justice so intense that it seems, at first glance, to be a call for revenge. The Old Testament is filled with references to justice, and justice is a key topic in the Psalms. Unfortunately, many judges and rulers in ancient times took justice into their own hands. They had complete authority with no accountability and the power to make their own laws. When the earth's judges are corrupt, people have little hope of justice in this life. But God loves justice, and those who obey him will experience perfect justice in eternity. Meanwhile, Christians should stand for justice for the voiceless, the vulnerable, and the oppressed because doing so reflects the heart of God.


 (58:6-10) A Call for Justice - David fervently calls for justice that would bring grisly judgment. Broken teeth give way to godly people wading in the blood of the wicked. These words convey ugly pictures of the gruesome consequences of sin. Even uglier pictures of the darkness are often revealed by our own cruel demands for justice. Ironically, during his reign, David would forcefully experience God's justice and be subject to the very judgment he called down on others (see 2 Samuel 12:1-15). We can be grateful that God hears our prayers, but we can also be grateful that God answers our requests with mercy

 

(58:11) Injustice is Judged - Of all people, our national leaders should be just and fair. When they are unjust and unfair, people suffer as politicians take advantage of them, national morality deteriorates, and God is ignored. When good triumphs at last, "the righteous shall rejoice" (58:10). Be assured that a day of accountability will come and that God judges fairly. Be careful never to side with injustice, lest you find yourself standing before an angry Judge.


Dave Burnette's Life Application

His Justice


Each day, we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter, making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today, we continue in the Book of Psalms with Chapter 58. In our text today, we see a theme of praying for God's Justice. When no justice can be found, we can rejoice in knowing that justice will triumph because there is a God who will judge with complete fairness. In applying, we see that we can depend on the Lord as we are not in control, but the Lord is in control. When others seem to be getting away with wrong, we know that the Lord sees all and judges according to His Will. Knowing this truth, we can pray and give our burden to the Lord. It is not our job to execute justice on those who wrong us. How about you? Do you struggle when others escape the world's judgment? Let us learn from our Psalm and text today not to worry when others get away with wrongs, remembering that our Lord sees all and judges, bringing His Justice to all men in His perfect timing.

 

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Psalm 58

Psalm 58

 1Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

 2Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

 3The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

 4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

 5Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

 6Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

 7Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

 8As 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.

 9Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

 10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

 11So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.