Psalm 58

Read Psalm 58 ESV

Who - David talks to appointed human rulers, not fulfilling their office, but primarily he speaks to the LORD.

What - A Psalm challenging the unjust rulers and asking God to treat them with great disdain.  

When - Unstated.  The context does fit when Saul is unjustly pursuing David.  

Where - Unstated

Why - David sees the unjust decisions and judgments enacted by these rulers and judges.  These men are acting in self interest, abusing their power.  They consciously and with forethought make their decisions and take these actions.  It is pre-meditated theft and violence.  

How - David opens with a question to the rulers, “Do you decree what is right?”  David’s answer is “No.”  These rulers and judges are acting wickedly.  David uses very strong and colorful language to express his feelings about their injustice.  

In the next stanza David describes the wicked character of these men.  David describes men completely given over to wickedness.  He shows how black and corrupt their hearts really are.  I think this is important for us today:  these are not just immoral men taking advantage of their positions for personal gain (though they are doing that), nor are they carrying out policy decisions David does not agree with.  These are despots, they are tyrannical rulers who commit the most egregious abuses of power and mistreatment of their people.  

In the third stanza David makes his plea to God for justice.  David asks two punishments for these evil men.  1) Remove their power and ability to act as they do, to lose their office and its power.  2) David asks that they pay for their crimes by facing divine judgement.  Their deaths are to be so public and exceptional that everyone sees this is from God.  In the last stanza David gives the reason why God should do this: so the righteous will praise God and all men will know that God exists, seeing evil and dealing with it.  

So What 

1. When we experience injustice at the hand the wicked rulers, we can call to God for relief, justice and restitution.
2. When we enjoy life under the rule of just and righteous leaders, who serve with mercy and justice, we must remember this is a gift from the LORD and praise him for it.  
3. Anyone who seeks power and authority so they may use it for selfish gain is warned off what will happen to them.  
4. The LORD is a God who sees and knows what is being done on the earth.  He does care when evil is done by those he has chosen/ allowed to serve as rulers.  The LORD will not turn a blind eye. And in His time the LORD will punish and execute justice against such men and women.  
5. Apart from the working of the Spirit we are these evil rulers.  Our hearts are just as black and bent toward self-serving abuse as these rulers.  The only reason we are not like them is either we have not had the opportunity or the Holy Spirit has transformed us with a new heart able and willing to act righteously.