THERE IS A GOD WHO JUDGES THE EARTH

Passage: Psalms 58:1-11

Key verse: 11

NIV

Psalm 58[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b]

1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(A)
    Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,(B)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(C)

3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(D)
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5 that will not heed(E) the tune of the charmer,(F)
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(G)
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(H)
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;(I)
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(J)
8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(K)
    like a stillborn child(L) that never sees the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns(M)—
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[c](N)
10 The righteous will be glad(O) when they are avenged,(P)
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.(Q)
11 Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;(R)
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”(S)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  2. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

God Who Judges the Earth

To the choirmaster: according to (A)Do Not Destroy. A (B)Miktam[a] of David.

58 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?[b]
    Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
    your hands (C)deal out violence on earth.

3 The wicked are (D)estranged from the womb;
    they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 (E)They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
    like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5 so that it (F)does not hear the voice of charmers
    or of the cunning enchanter.

6 O God, (G)break the teeth in their mouths;
    tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7 Let them (H)vanish like water that runs away;
    when he (I)aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
8 Let them be like the snail (J)that dissolves into slime,
    like (K)the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of (L)thorns,
    whether green or ablaze, may he (M)sweep them away![c]

10 (N)The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
    he will (O)bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is (P)a reward for the righteous;
    surely there is a God who (Q)judges on earth.”

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 58:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 58:1 Or you mighty lords (by revocalization; Hebrew in silence)
  3. Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The language of this psalm could seem a little severe to us. However, to those suffering oppression and persecution by their government, it may not read as severe. Rulers should speak justly and judge with equity, but the rulers in this psalm did not. They invented new forms of injustice and were guilty of bloodshed and violence. This horrific corruption occurs in many parts of the world today. The depravity of these leaders was staggering. They were liars from birth, and their venom was like the venom of a snake. They acted like poisonous cobras who could not be charmed or controlled. For someone under their rule, life could seem quite hopeless.

David knew, however, that God is the sovereign judge of the earth. He has the power to deliver his people. David prayed that God would break and tear out the teeth and fangs of those wicked lions. God could make unjust rulers vanish like water and their weapons of war useless. His action would be swift and his victory overwhelming. Then, the people of the world would know that righteousness is still rewarded and that God is the judge over all the earth. God’s righteous anger over the sin of the world is a very serious matter. Those who confess their sin and turn to Jesus can find forgiveness and freedom from condemnation.

Prayer: Father, deliver the oppressed from injustice.

One Word: The righteousness of God will prevail