May 15, 2024

A Prayer of David #

Psalm 58:1-5

Introduction

As we go through the Psalms, we witness many different moods of David. As he goes through the struggles of life. We can find common ground even within our life. While we certainly do not live in the same day and age as David, life bears many similarities to his.

We have our ups, we have our downs, we have our fears, we have our trials, we have our mountain top views.

We do not know when this Psalm was given, though it does seem to fit well at the time that David was on the outs with Saul and living the life of a refuge, on the run from the law. The first few verses fit well with that scene.

I. Practice of the Wicked (1-5) #

A. Involvement “O congregation” (1) #

1. People were involved (probably the nation of Israel) #

2. Popular opinion scrutinized. “Do ye indeed speak righteousness?” “do ye judge uprightly?” #

3. Public Opinion - Testimony is important #

- Public opinion is not everything…. Sometimes you will not sway the public!
  - Joseph did right, -public opinion was wrong
  - David did right, -public opinion was wrong.

B. Iniquity “ye work wickedness” (2) #

1. Hidden truth “In heart ye work wickedness” (2) #

2. It is wicked to pretend you are righteous, and trying to destroy someone. #

C. Inception “estranged from the womb” (3-5) #

Prov. 22:15 ¶ Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

1. Deception (3) #

2. Deadly! (4) “like the poison of a serpent” #

3. Determined (5) No reasoning with a serpent #

Jer. 8:17 For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.

II. Petition against the Wicked (6-8) #

A. Disarm them! (6) #

1. Teeth of serpent, teeth of lion #

B. Disappear (7) #

1. Water #

2. Arrows disintegrate in mid-air #

C. Death (8) #

1. Snail melting – snails cannot live in sunny dry environment! #

2. Miscarriage - #

3. Requesting their death #

It is important to distinguish here, that David refused to lift a finger to kill Saul, but yet would pray that God would do so.
NOTE: Prayer can be made for the end of iniquitous men, we are not the ones to carry out such actions.

1 Sam 25:37 “...his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.”

III. Prediction about the Wicked (9-11) #

A. Rapid Judgement – Pots, thorns? (9) #

1. Thorns were used as fuel for a small cooking fire #

2. Life falls to judgement #

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

B. Rejoicing (10) #

1. David would rejoice #

2. Prophecy “wash his feet in the blood” #

Rev. 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.