Psalms 58-59Sept. 6 - Sept. 12 , 2018

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Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things

out of thy law.Psalms 119:18

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1. What are some examples of injustice and/or violence you see being carried out by leaders and others in positions of power (think internationally, nationally and locally)? If you were to speak your rage against these people and their actions, what would you say?

2. Do verses 58:6-11 scare you, repulse you, comfort you or vindicate you? What are specific truths about God (His character, His actions in the past, His activity in the present, His promises for the future) that you can call to mind and heart that will help you through any negative emotions?

3. In chapter 59, who are the enemies? Why does it seem there are two groups? Is David claiming sinlessness in verses 3c, 4a? How do David’s enemies sin against him? What does David ask God to do to his enemies? How have you prayed for your “enemies”? Do you feel the Lord answered your prayer? How was God magnified through this?

4. David wrote his greatest Psalms during his hardest battles. What’s a battle you have gone through that made you stronger because of it? What battle are you currently fighting? What would it look like to fight from victory instead of for victory?

With the Word Bible CommentaryPSALM 58

In words that may seem unchristian to us, David denounced the unjust rulers of his day, people who promoted evil by condemning the righteous and defending the wicked. In a prayer that would probably not be “Amened” in churches today, he asked God to judge sinners and establish righteousness on the earth.

David used many images as he prayed for their judgment: “Make them toothless lions! Let them disappear like water on the sand or like the slime of a snail! Make them broken arrows! Let them be like stillborn children! Let them burn up like fuel under a pot! Let them be taken away in a whirlwind!”

You will find similar passages in other Psalms, such as 35:1–8, 26; 59:11–15; 69:22–28; 109:6–20; and 139:19–22. These verses seem to contradict the admonition of Matthew 5:43–48 and the examples of Luke 23:34 and Acts 7:60. How should today’s Christian respond?

Because he was God’s chosen king, David’s enemies were God’s enemies (Ps. 139:21–22). No doubt his personal feelings were involved in these prayers, but his great concern was the righteousness of God and the good of God’s people. David had the authority to denounce national enemies; we have the privilege of forgiving personal enemies.

But you cannot forgive enemies until you realize how wicked their words and deeds are. A holy anger against sin, and a forgiving spirit toward sinners, is the mark of a true child of God. The person who has no concern to oppose wickedness in this world does not know the sinfulness of sin or the holiness of God. That believer needs some backbone!

One day, God will judge the wicked. When you pray the first three petitions of the Lord’s Prayer, you are expressing briefly what David wrote in vivid detail. David left all judgment to the Lord but did his part to further God’s holy will on the earth. If more saints today felt a holy anger against sin (Ps. 4:4; Eph. 4:26), the church might have a more effective ministry as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

__________________________________ “If the Jews cursed more bitterly than the pagans this was, I think, at least in part because they took right and wrong more seriously. For if we look at their railings we find that they are usually angry not simply because these things have been done to them but because these

things are manifestly wrong, are hateful to God as well as to the victim.” C. S. Lewis

__________________________________ PSALM 59

I will pray (1–7). David compared his enemies to dogs prowling the city streets and growling over the garbage. Saul was after him again (1 Sam. 19:1–11), and only the Lord could deliver David.

I will wait (8–15). David’s wife helped him escape that time, but David faced several years of danger and exile before he received his rightful throne. Twice he could have killed Saul, but he refused to do so. He knew that God would deal with his enemies in His way and in His time (1 Sam. 26:8–11).

I will sing (16–17). David had a song in the morning because God gave him joy in the morning (Ps. 30:5). Things often look worse at night, so wait for the morning; God will give you your song of praise.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). With the Word Bible Commentary (Ps 58:1–59:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Study Questions for Psalms 58-59