Psalm
58 reminds me of the famous quote,
“Power
tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
(John
Dalberg-Acton, and English historian). This psalm of David was
written to the judges of Israel. David understood there is only one
righteous judge and one day all will be measured by His perfect
standard. He begins with a question and answer. “Do
you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? No,
in your heart you devise injustice.
Remember,
God intended to be the only king of Israel, but the people wanted to
be like the other nations. “But
you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your
calamities and distresses. And you have said, ‘No, set a king over
us‘.”
(1 Samuel 10:19). David describes the judges, “from
the womb they are wayward
and
speak lies… like the venom of a snake“.
David also understood that no matter how powerful a man becomes, he
is still subject to the God of All. David appeals for God’s
intervention “tear
out… the fangs of the lions!“.
When we are wronged we want immediate correction, but David
describes the painfully slow process that is God’s justice “Let
them vanish like water… Like a slug melting away as it moves along…
the wicked will be swept away“.
If you are waiting for an enemy to “get what they deserve” maybe
you should let it go. Vindication never comes fast enough and is
never as satisfying as we hope. David reminds us all, “surely
there is a God who judges the earth“.
Where are you looking for justice?
Psalm
59 is divided into two sections, a call for help and a reminder of
God’s nature. Most of us grow closer to God in times of
difficulty. Certainly that is part of God’s design. For many of
us, it was not until we were out of options that we turned to God.
David begins, “Deliver
me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against
me“.
David wisely turned to God frequently and quickly in times of
struggle. Why do we hesitate? David described his situation to God
in what could be a desperate prayer “they
lie in wait for me… conspire against me… I have done no wrong…
help me“.
God knows our heart, but speaking the words helps boost our faith.
Next
David gives a vivid expression of his position. Under God’s
protection the “wicked
traitors”
are put into perspective. He describes his persecutors this way,
“snarling
like dogs… they spew out swords from their lips… But you, O Lord,
laugh at them“.
David adds, “You,
O God, are my fortress… go before me“.
This is one of my constant prayers. I know I don’t always choose
the right path, but my desire is that He would direct my steps even
as I go. It is interesting that David asks God for mercy toward his
enemies. “But
do not kill them, O Lord… make them wander… let them be caught in
their pride“.
David also makes the point that dogs are no longer scary when they
are unable to reach you, “They
wander about for food and howl if not satisfied“.
David understands that there is a point where evil will be punished
and he recognizes even in that there is a purpose, “Then
it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob“.
Essentially David turns it over to God. This frees David up to
worship. The psalm concludes, “But
I will sing of your strength…
I
will sing of Your love;
for You
are my fortress,
my refuge
in times of trouble… my loving God“.
Are you too distracted by the snarling dogs to give God praise?
“May
our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by
His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your
hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word”
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
.