Psalm 58

Illus: Fear of Snakes...

“The only good snake is a dead snake...”

Even snake charmers seem ridiculous to me...

Idea of calming the chaotic...

Phil Robertson “Bees need smoke in their face”

Imprecatory Psalm

is the Thesis statement. We look at the rest of Scripture through that lens.

Jesus and the Lord’s Prayer. Paul and those who are trying to deceive the church.

prophetic/eschatological/ethics

6-8 Case presented to the Lord

prophetic/eschatological/ethics

Structure = inclusio between terms in verse 1 and verse 11

A Concern for Justice 1-2

B The Lies of the Wicked 3-5

C Justice 6-9

B’ The Joy of the Righteous 10

A’ Affirmation of Justice 11

**No Historical Marker**

Rashi however links to 1 Samual 26

A Concern for Justice 1-2

David’s enemies are acting like gods. Wicked judges are never characterized with righteousness.

What is the place and reasoning for government? Why have it at all? What biblical story demonstrates the need for restrictions and limitations to men? (Babel and the Flood).

2. The injustice lies in the character of the judge. Wickedness is in their hearts.

Illus: Doesn’t matter if I change the outside of the pen. The ink will still be blue. Because our hearts are evils…wickedness flows from them. Christianity and the New Covenant of the the New Testament is so adamant about a new heart, new life, born again.

Do Christians still fall, yes. But there is a difference between falling and still having a wicked heart. Let the reader understand.

B The Lies of the Wicked 3-5

Illus: A world where everyone wears a microphone (5th Element)

The nature of the wicked is amplified 1: wicked from birth…as a father of 5 I can confirm this. Never forget Hannah.

Wicked go astray and bend and twist rules and circumstances their way because they are selfish.

Hosea 5:7 CSB

They betrayed the Lord; indeed, they gave birth to illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their fields.

2:The wicked are like venom from a snake. They are dangerous. They don’t care about God, the poor, or justice.

C Justice 6-9

6. The radical nature of evil requires a response from the God of justice.

The imagery here again goes back to

God

break

their teeth in their mouths

the fangs of the lions

tear out

O Lord.

7-8

David uses analogies to demonstrate the fleeting nature of evil against the Lord.

9—Very difficult to translate from Hebrew. We don’t lose heart or question accuracy, we remember Hebrew and English are not the same. We are spoiled to have access to such great translations.

David knows that the wicked do not have a future. It will expire at the just judgement of the Lord.

B’ The Joy of the Righteous 10

The righteous delight in justice. It is impossible to be Christian and non-political. We rejoice when justice is served and when governments help the least of these.

Illus: Iceland and down syndrome.

Micah 6:8 CSB

Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.

The Lord will bring justice, listen to Isaiah....

Isaiah 63:1–6 CSB

Who is this coming from Edom in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah— this one who is splendid in his apparel, striding in his formidable might? It is I, proclaiming vindication, powerful to save. Why are your clothes red, and your garments like one who treads a winepress? I trampled the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with me. I trampled them in my anger and ground them underfoot in my fury; their blood spattered my garments, and all my clothes were stained. For I planned the day of vengeance, and the year of my redemption came. I looked, but there was no one to help, and I was amazed that no one assisted; so my arm accomplished victory for me, and my wrath assisted me. I crushed nations in my anger; I made them drunk with my wrath and poured out their blood on the ground.

A’ Affirmation of Justice 11

The righteous will be vindicated.

Whenever justice prevails, God and his kingdom are being established. And we long for the day when God rules on the earth as he does in heaven. This perspective changes how we face today and the challenges of today and tomorrow. We have hope. We know that there is a God, who will judge the whole earth,.