Just and Unjust Judgment. Psalm 58:1-11

Transcription

1 1 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell Just and Unjust Judgment Psalm 58:1-11

2 2 Text: Psalm 58:1-11, Just and Unjust Judgment Commentary by Clyde M. Miller 1. 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; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! 7. Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. 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 men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." (NIV)

3 3 Introduction: I. Psalm 58 is difficult to categorize. A. It partakes of elements of psalms of lament and petition with its description of the wicked and imprecations against them. B. In its contrast between justice and injustice, however, it follows the pattern of a wisdom psalm. C. It may be best to classify it as a wisdom psalm with elements of a lament. II. Outline: A. The psalm opens with an indictment against the mighty (1-2). 1. Psalm 58:1, 2, Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. (NIV) B. Their own wickedness is next described (3-5). 1. Psalm 58:3-5, Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. (NIV) C. Next, curses are placed on them (6-9). 1. Psalm 58:6-9, Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! Let

4 4 them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns whether they be green or dry the wicked will be swept away. (NIV) D. The psalm closes with the assurance of God s just judgment (10-11). Commentary: 1. Psalm 58:10, 11, The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." (NIV) Indictment Against the Mighty Psalm 58:1-2, Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. (NIV) Psalm 58:1, Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? (NIV) I. A textual problem makes it difficult to decide whether false gods or earthly rulers are under consideration. A. The text apparently involves an adverb in silence,?lem, (ASV, NKJV) or by a slight emendation, mighty lords,?lim, a plural noun.

5 5 B. Left open is the question whether earthly overlords (NCV, NIV, NKJV), or false gods (NASB, NASB95, RSV, NRSV) are intended. This commentary takes the view that earthly rulers are under consideration. II. Rhetorical questions are asked in verse 1 with negative answers anticipated. The answers are given in verse 2. Psalm 58:2, No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. (NIV) I. Verse 2 is structured in a synonymous couplet. A. Heart and hands indicate the inner and outer means of injustice. B. Injustice and violence are word pairs, the latter defining the specific kind of the former. 1. Devise and mete out are closer synonyms. Dscription of the Wicked Psalm 58:3-5, Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. (NIV) Psalm 58:3, Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. (NIV) I. Verse 3 is structured in a synonymous couplet.

6 6 A. From birth and from the womb are identical synonyms, as are go astray and are wayward. 1. And speak lies, an extension of the second line, defines their kind of waywardness. B. Verse 3 is not teaching inherited sin; it is rather describing the human tendency to learn to sin early in life, as the phrase go astray indicates. Psalm 58:4-5, Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. (NIV) I. Verse 4 is structured in incomplete synonymous parallelism. A. Venom is omitted but understood in the second line. 1. Of a snake and of a cobra are synonyms, the latter specifically identifying the kind of snake considered. B. That has stopped its ears is an extension of the second line. 1. This clause involves personification. a. A human characteristic is attributed to the cobra. C. Venom here refers to the spiritual poison injected by the wicked. II. Verse 5 extends the description of the venomous nature of the wicked. A. The verse describes the stubbornness of the wicked that prevents their heeding any reproving advice.

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8 8 Curses on the Wicked Psalm 58:6-9, Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns whether they be green or dry the wicked will be swept away. (NIV) Psalm 58:6, Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! (NIV) I. Verse 6 describes the wicked as ravenous lions. A. The removal of their fangs renders them helpless. Psalm 58:7, Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. (NIV) I. Verse 7 describes the wicked as a dry wadi that cannot serve its purpose. A. It also describes them as an archer whose arrows are blunted so that they can do no harm against their foe. Psalm 58:8, Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. (NIV) I. Verse 8 describes the wicked as a slug that melts away and thus is no longer a threat, and like a stillborn child that is helpless against a foe.

9 9 Psalm 58:9, Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns whether they be green or dry the wicked will be swept away. (NIV) I. Verse 9 describes the wicked as a pot that receives no heat and thus can receive no good or harm. A. Thus the wicked will be swept away concludes the list of curses. B. The text is very difficult here. 1. The Hebrew seems to say, May he sweep them away. 2. If that text is accepted, the antecedent of he must be God, anticipating verse 11c. Assurance of God s Judgment Psalm 58:10-11, The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." (NIV) Psalm 58:10, The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. (NIV) I. Verse 10 employs metaphorical and hyperbolic language. A. A military victory is being described in language that may be offensive to modern readers but which may be literal in warfare. B. The avenging of the righteous is an act of God, as verse 11 declares.

10 10 C. The rejoicing of the righteous is the key point of verse 10. D. The tables are now turned. Psalm 58:11, Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." (NIV) I. The rewarding of the righteous is truly a Bible theme, just as surely as God judges the earth (Mt. 5:11-12; 6:3,4,6,18). A. Matthew 5:11, 12, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NIV) B. Matthew 6:3, 4, 6, 18, But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (NIV) II. The concept of reward in no way violates the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace. A. God s reward is always greater than our deserts.

11 11 Application: I. Righteousness and wickedness will always exist in our world. II. The apparent success of wickedness must not be allowed to dull our senses to the reality of the victory that will eventually be awarded the righteous who are faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10). A. Revelation 2:10, Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (NIV)

12 12 Questions Psalm 58:1-11 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. What is a miktam? 2. What are the words of the song, Do not Destroy? How would you describe the tune to which it was sung? 3. What was the use of Psalm 58 as inferred by the title? 4. Do your rulers indeed speak justly? Did the rulers to which the psalmist referred speak justly? Support your answers with scripture and secular facts.

13 Answer the questions of number 4 above in reference to Judges. 6., in your you, and your out on the. 7. Explain how the wicked go astray from their birth and from the womb are wayward and speak lies. What does this mean? 8. What is the venom of the wicked? In what ways are the wicked like snakes, cobras in particular? 9. What did the psalmist pray that God would do to the wicked? See verses 6-8 and list each item mentioned.

14 How might the psalmist have reacted if others had spoken this prayer in reference to him? 11. Verse 9 says the wicked will be swept away quickly. Is this always or sometimes true? Support your answer with scriptures and historical facts. 12. The will be when they are, when they their in the of the. 13. Then will say, Surely the still are ; surely there is a who the. 14. In view of the world s wickedness, have you ever wondered if God is really in charge of everything? If so, what would it take to fully relieve your mind?

15 What parts of Psalm 58 are literal and what parts are figurative? Does this change the meaning of the figurative expressions? If so, how? 16. How can Psalm 58 be best categorized? 17. Outline Psalm Give examples of how stubborn the wicked can be. 19. What does the bible say about the righteous being rewarded?

16 How can the teachings of Psalm 58 be applied to your life?