MARCH 21
Psalm 58:11, “Mankind will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”
Psalm 58 is one of several imprecatory psalms, a category of psalms that invoke divine judgment or punishment upon the psalmist’s enemies. In this psalm, David expresses deep distress over the wickedness he witnesses around him. He observes rulers who, instead of dispensing justice, are evil to their core. These wicked individuals, described as being “wicked from birth,” devise evil with malicious intent. David likens them to venomous snakes, resistant to the efforts of the charmer, refusing to heed correction.
David’s lament is one of yearning for justice—a justice that would see the wicked swept away. Above all, David is troubled by the oppression of the righteous and longs for a day when God’s vengeance will be enacted against evil.
This longing for justice resonates deeply with those who have understanding. We yearn for a world where justice prevails. Yet, there is reason for hope. Justice has already been served through the cross of Jesus Christ. As 1 Peter 3:18 reminds us, “Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” Despite the fact that we are all born sinners (Romans 3:23), deserving of judgment (Romans 6:23), Jesus provided a way for forgiveness to all who believe in Him.
Moreover, when the Lord Jesus returns, He will fully and finally enact justice. As stated in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10, Jesus will come “inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” Those who have rejected God’s offer of salvation will face judgment, while those who have believed will receive their reward, marveling at the glory of His presence.
David’s cry for justice, though rooted in the pain of injustice, is ultimately a reminder that God will set all things right in His perfect timing. While the world may seem filled with wickedness now, there is hope in the promise of Christ’s return, where justice will be fully realized and evil finally vanquished.
“Two things will come out clearly after all—there is a God and a reward for the righteous.” – Charles Spurgeon
Application questions: How much does sin trouble you—whether it be your own or that which you see in the world? How thankful are you, that though you were unjust, Jesus suffered that you might be declared just and be reconciled to God? When will justice on earth be fully realized?
LookingtoJesus 