The Righteous Will Prevail Against the Wicked--Psalm 58

Psalm 58 contains on of the strongest imprecations [curses] found anywhere in scripture. It falls into four pericopes.

1. The poet begins by addressing "the gods." Verses 1-2.
     Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
          Do you judge people fairly?
     No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
          your hands deal out violence.
     a. It is obvious that the "gods" in verse 1 are invisible superhuman beings created by God and subordinated to God, but allowed to intervene in the world among human beings to cause sin and violence in the lives of human beings. These are wicked beings like those which Jesus described as the devil and his angels in Matthew 25:41. 1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6; Psalm 82:1 gives descriptions of Yahweh sitting on his heavenly throne surrounded by his created angels, some righteous and some wicked. verse 1.
     b. These "gods" in verse 1 are clearly wicked angels because they devise wrongs in their hearts and lead human beings on earth into sin and bring violence.  verse 2.

2. The poet then moves to a description of wicked human beings motivated by the wicked angels described in verses 1-2. Verses 3-5.
     a. He says the wicked go astray from the womb and err from birth speaking lies. This hrdly means that they inherit original sin from their parents. Rather, this is an idiomatic term declaring they are quick to yield to the temptations of wicked angels mentioned in verse 1. verse 3.
     b. The psalmist compares the wicked with the venom of a serpent and a deaf adder which stops its ear refusing to hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. In other words, the wicked cannot be turned from wickedness by divine warnings and exhortations, because they are intent on spreading their venom, that is, their sin. verses 4-5.

3. Because of their hardheartedness in being committed to sin, the poet prays fervently that God will utterly destroy these wicked people. His language is very strong (verses 6-9):
     O God, break the teeth in their mouths'
         tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord.
     Let them vanish like water that runs away;
          like grass let them be trodden down and wither.
     Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime;
          like the untimely birth that shall never see the sun.
     Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
          whether green or ablaze, nay he sweep them away!
These four verses contain six curses levelled against the wicked. The poet uses six figures in his prayer that God will destroy the wicked with quick and irreparable destruction. He prays that they will be like:
     a. young lions who have their teeth torn out--verse 6
     b. water that quickly runs off the land after a downpour--verse 7a
     c. grass that is trodden down and withered--verse 7b
     d. a snail that draws itself up into its shell--verse 8a
     e. a miscarriage--verse 8b
     f. a cooking pot that is quickly heated over a fire of thorns--verse 9

4. In bold contrast to the wicked, the poet concludes by proclaiming that ultimately Yahweh will deliver the righteous. Verses 10-11.
     a. The righteous will rejoice when God wreaks vengeance on the wicked. verse 10
     b. All human beings who are made aware of this situation will extol Yahweh for delivering the righteous and destroy the wicked. verse 11.

It is impossible for human beings in contemporary times  to know the motives and tone of voice of ancient speakers and writers. Therefore, it is quite possible that psalmists like the composer of Psalm 58 uttered curses against their enemies not for selfish motives to gleefully watch their persecutors suffer, but because they are totally convinced that these people were wicked and thus enemies of God.

Share YOUR insights and perceptions and beliefs and concerns and concepts with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis