Saturday, February 21, 2015

Psalm 58: Thirsty For Vengeance

Some of psalms offend our modern sensibilities.  Psalm 58 is a good example.  We don't normally look forward to washing our feet in the blood of the wicked.  We know we shouldn't wish death and destruction upon our enemies. Such language may make us uncomfortable and lead us to wonder: "Where has the compassion and grace of God gone?"

We first of all need to remember that this is David, an Old Testament human being inspired by the Holy Spirit, who is praying.  This is the heart cry of a man who has suffered and fought against many enemies.  He is looking for the Lord's deliverance of himself and punishment of his enemies.  It does not necessarily reflect God's ultimate plan or hope for those who have sinned against Him.

Yet the larger theme in Psalms like this is an acknowledgement of the fundamental incompatibility between righteousness and wickedness.  We know that, for our time on earth, evil and good co-exist, like weeds and wheat growing together in a farmer's field.

But the Bible does not view this state of affairs as existing for eternity.  There is coming a time when wickedness will be dealt with and the righteous shall be free from their oppression.  While we may cringe and draw back from some of the brutal imagery that David employs to picture that day, there is a legitimate hunger in our hearts to see evil appropriately judged while the redeemed are rescued from their troubles.  I believe that this sense of coming justice is the bigger lesson to glean from Psalms like this.

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