The author of Psalm 58 is David - it was at a time when men in authority were twisting justice around. When no justice can be found, rejoice in knowing that justice will triumph because there is a God who will judge with complete fairness. This psalm is a cry for justice, so intense that it seems, at first glance to be a call for revenge. It is a prayer for justice.
Psalm 58:1 - "Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men?"
The Old Testament is filled with references to justice and it 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 earth's judges are corrupt, there is little hope of justice in this life. But God loves justice, and those who obey him will experience perfect justice in eternity.
Psalm 58:11 - Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
Of all people, our national leaders should be just and fair. When they are unjust and unfair, people suffer. the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, politicians take power from the people, national morality deteriorates, and God is ignored. When right triumphs at last, 'the righteous will be glad'. Be assured that there will be a day of accountability and that God judges fairly. Be careful never to side with injustice, because you may find yourself standing before an angry judge.
Here's a good song about God's justice by Tim Hughes - the words are written below:
God of Justice - Tim Hughes
Here are the words:
God of Justice, Savior to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
(Chorus)
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
(Chorus)
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord (4x)
(Chorus)
Psalm 58 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge uprightly among men?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward and speak lies.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5 that will not heed the tune of the charmer,
however skillful the enchanter may be.
6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;
when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted (fall short).
8 Like a slug melting away as it moves along,
like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.
10 The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth.