Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 58
This Psalm starts off with a question for the leaders and rulers of the world. Do you really know what righteousness and justice really is?(vs. 1) Then he continues to condemn and rebuke their actions. One version calls them “gods”, and many of the surrounding nations and the Godless leaders considered themselves as “gods” and expected to be worshipped and treated as such. The reality was that though they thought of themselves as “gods”, there words and actions were unjust, violent, wayward, deceitful, and venomous.(vs. 2-5)
In verses 6-8 we have the call for God’s justice and judgment to fall on these egregious rulers and leaders. The word pictures are stunning as David calls for God to remove their power (teeth), their effectiveness(blunted arrows), their productive lives(stillborn babes), and their longevity(water vanishing in the sun). The best understood judgment for us is the picture of the slug who dries up in the sun and melts away, or like every kid knows dissolves when you put salt on it.(vs. 8)
The end of the Psalm brings encouragement to the just and righteous. God will bring justice and vengeance on the wicked and we will see it happen, whether now or in the future of eternity. The promise is ours: Psalms 58:11 Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”
(NIV) We can trust that God will bring about vengeance and justice and the righteous will be rewarded for trusting in the Lord.
Father, we do call for you to bring Your justice and judgment on the wicked. We know that no one has any power accept You allow it for Your purpose and glory. So when we see the wickedness and corruption of our leader and world, we cry out for You to make things right. Thank You that we can trust in a God whose all seeing eyes can set things straight with justice and righteousness. May we never lose faith in our Faithful God. In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor Rob