what happens when mankind, or an individual forgets who they are and assume they are "gods"? It may sound crazy, but it happens all the time, and is everywhere to be seen. When a person says they are accountable to no one, and make themselves lord over their ways of living, and their decisions, they are according to the Bible, corrupt. Psalm 58 gives us some direction in how to pray when confronted with such people. If you would like to know more, check out the new posting in the Daily Psalms of Morning Mercies.
The Daily Psalms are given with the intention to encourage Christians to read and meditate on these scriptures in order to grow in their faith and relationship with God. They are released every Tuesday and Thursday for the following week on all major Podcast platforms. May the Lord bless you as you ponder His Word.
Presented by Michael Mullen
These words of David take us up short. They are beyond harsh. They almost seem cruel or vindictive. Yet there, in the call for God to bring his judgement, is a clue to how God feels about sin, and the things we do to each other, that should not be missed. This Psalm is not about the clumsy sins we do amongst each other, where we occasionally lie, or deceive. It is not about how we are insensitive to the feelings of others. Rather it is addressed to the wicked, the most evil amongst us who see themselves as gods of their own lives. The arrogance and extreme evil they in turn end up doing deserves the remedy of God’s righteous anger.
We get a clue right away about who David is speaking of in verse one where he address them sarcastically as “gods.” They have made themselves so because they have chosen to be accountable to no one. They are lords of their own lives and doing. Notice that gods here is not capitalized. They are in no way God, but false deities that will be shown for who they truly are when God Almighty comes and sets all things right. That is what David is praying and yearns for.
Should we desire anything less? There are places in the world where the selfish have risen to such power that they will take all they can to satisfy their lust and greed. There are even times when such wickedness becomes entrenched in society, and it becomes the norm to abuse and use each other. What is to be done when this is the case? Only the strong righteous judgement of a Holy God can set it right again.
How do we recognize such times? When men see themselves as gods, they will do habitually violence, and their words shall be poisonous, dividing and causing mischief and confusion wherever they are found.
When the judgement of God comes upon such places and people, and god sends his judgment, they will evaporate like little water that is poured out on hot sand. They will be like the still born that never perceive the day, out a snail that shrivels in the sun. This God will do, for he will restore his creation, and for those who refuse his righteousness, they will receive his wrath.
Don’t we want this, not as a form of revenge, but because like Him, we want this world to be submitted to what is right, good, and beautiful? His righteous judgement we wait for, because our hearts are made for that which is of Him.
Deal righteously with us all LORD, and make us and this world right.
Amen. Let us pray.
Prayer
Lord of the Nations,
Hear your faithful pray:
In to many ways we have turned our backs
to the unrighteous acts of our people,
To the sins of the nation.
We have turned our backs on your path of love.
Those who lead, lead astray.
Those who speak lead unconsecrated lives.
To many live from their flesh. Neglecting the spirit.
We wither.
May your Spirit blow upon our land, renewing the ground and the hearts.
Then bring a harvest to your church,
And to those who pray.
In the name of our King, Amen.