Monday, October 17, 2011

Psalm 58 (KJV): righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance

From Psalms

Psalm 58
(For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.)

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.

I am told that this psalm was written by David shortly after he took the throne of Israel.  He was facing up to the realization that the administration of judicial, establish by Saul, was rife with corruption.  The judges believed they were above the law.  Given this background, this psalm seems a bit strong in its condemnation of the judges, evil at birth, estranged from the Lord from the womb.

It is a difficult and frustrating situation where we don't see justice served - where evil is not punished.  It makes emotional and brings the worst out in us.  However, David, as the psalmist turns the tables and gives us new perspective verses 10 and 11 as he closes the psalm.  He reminds us that the only real judge, the supreme judge is God.  God judges rightly.

Sometimes we all have bad days and feel like the world is out to get us and persecute us.  Those are the days, as addicts, when we want to retreat we see no easy way out.  On those days we need to remind ourselves of this psalm that you are in the excellent company of Jesus.  As long as we are living our lives and doing things in the manner that God intends, and Jesus taught, we are blessed and should excited.  So don't get emotional, or frustrated and angry, and definitely let's not turn back into addiction in these situations.  Let's not take revenge on these antagonists, rather let's pray for them.

Thanks for letting me share.

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