June 15, 2023 — Psalm 58 

“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 on earth. The wicked go astray from the womb; they err from their birth, speaking lies. They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. 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 never sees the sun. Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away! The righteous will rejoice when they see vengeance done; they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. People will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.” Psalm 58 

The principles and prayers in the psalm apply universally where an unjust judicial system is practiced. This psalm is a good lesson to all rulers and judges, that they are accountable to G-d for the way they rule and pronounce judgments and that they themselves are liable to severe punishments by God if they should ever pervert true justice. In Judaism there is a concept not to rejoice too much at the downfall of one’s enemies. Yet despite this practice of grace, we certainly do pray that wicked people are punished and that violent oppressors are destroyed. 

We should not live in the hope that the others of the world who hate us and speak evil against us will get their due punishment at some point. Instead we must allow judgment to G-d, which will allow us to let go of hate and put our trust and hope in G-d alone.

 Prayer 

Merciful God, all judgment belongs to you. Give us the wisdom to perceive Christ in others, and to examine our own conduct; so that on the great and final day we may approach you not as severe judge, but as our Father, who loves us in Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.