The American Justice system declares itself to be the best
in the world. If that is true what a sad statement on justice. Our system is
filled with injustice. There is corruption. Justice for the poor is not the
same as justice for the rich. Money cannot buy everything but it will make a huge
difference when one has to face the courts. In Psalm 58 David is crying out to
God about the wickedness of those who judge and rule. It is an imprecatory psalm,
one that prays for judgment by God against these evil men in control.
David asks them a question. It is rhetorical in nature for
in verse 2 he answers for them.
Psalm 58:1-2
Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge uprightly among men? No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
Nothing has changed even today in our courts and on our
streets. But David provides the answer as to why justice seems so evasive. Hear
his words.
Psalm 58:3-5
Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be.
Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be.
Men are wicked by nature. They are liars from birth. The
Bible is replete with teachings on the depravity of man. The Book of Romans
tells us straight up of our depraved nature.
Romans 3:9-18
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
The reason we have such a messed up justice system is
because we have men (and of course women as well) ruling over us. And all of us
are at the core liars and wicked people. Even us Christians are still sinners
and we do not administer justice properly. Don’t believe me? Get involved in
ministry at a high level and you will soon see the same fighting and backbiting
going on there as you find in the world.
Man was not created to rule himself; he was created to be
ruled by God. Period. Check out 1 Samuel 8. It was there when Israel rejected
God and demanded a King. God warned them in what is the greatest example of be
careful what you ask for.
1 Samuel 8:6-9
But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do."
Man has rejected God. So David finds himself so frustrated
over injustice, that he calls on God to act.
Psalm 58:6-9
Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. Before your pots can feel [the heat of] the thorns-- whether they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away.
Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions! Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted. Like a slug melting away as it moves along, like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun. Before your pots can feel [the heat of] the thorns-- whether they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away.
That does not sound very Christian like, does it? But the
truth is that this is a prophetic warning. Jesus is coming back and when He
does this prayer will come to fruition.
Psalm 58:10-11
The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth."
Christian brothers and sisters, there is a God who judges
the earth. But the time for that has not yet arrived. Instead God is exercising
His wonderful patience as we live now in the age of grace. Our task is not to
take matters in our own hands; it is to share to truth of Jesus Christ to the
evil and wicked world. God will avenge; but in His time, not ours. This is the
truth of scripture.
Follow the instructions of Jesus. We are His disciples now.
Except for John and Judas, all the other original disciples died as martyrs
doing the work of Christ. They suffered brutal deaths at the hands of man’s
injustice. Are we willing to do the same?
I leave you with the words of Jesus.
John 15:12-14
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
Are you His friend? Then leave justice to Him.
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
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