Daily View Devotion in Psalm 58

 

Daily Nugget:
Throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments, man is declared and shown as a sinner. Psalm 58 reinforces what most instinctively know about themselves; we trespass God’s commandments. All are guilty of iniquity. None are free from that plague on all mankind.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

Many think God is only concerned about the “big” sins, like murder, adultery, and robbery. This Psalm lists transgressions that are ignored and not given attention and concern. However, they are still against God’s laws.

Many iniquities that are not addressed and not thought sinful are:

• Failure to speak righteously (Psalm 58:1),
• Judging others (Psalm 58:1),
• Wicked hearts (Psalm 58:2),Violent actions and thoughts (Psalm 58:2),
• Lying (Psalm 58:3),
• A venomous tongue (used in deceit, backbiting, spreading discord — Psalm 58:4),
• And not listening to wisdom, common sense, or reason (Psalm 58:5).

The writer wanted God to intervene in the sinner’s crimes against God and make it so they would not continue with their damaging sins (Psalm 58:6-9). Many times, we feel the same way.

We can be firm and judgmental of others and desire God’s judging wrath poured out on them, but we forget one thing. We, too, are sinners and guilty of transgressing God’s commandments. 

If we are saved, our trusting in Jesus’ death for payment of our sins gets our iniquities forgotten and forgiven. However, we still sin. 

We should be glad that God gives us mercy and does not give us what we deserve each time we break His commandments. Why cannot we be merciful and not judgmental of others when they violate God’s laws?

Today’s Thought: 
“We hand folks over to God's mercy and show none ourselves.” — Eliot

Words to Understand:
Altaschith: It is believed that it could be the opening words to a popular song at the time.
Deaf Adder: it is believed to be a copperhead-type snake
Michtam: poem

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 58
1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
6 ¶ Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
8 As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.