Rulers Are Judged - Psalms 57-59

Rulers Are Judged

Psalms 58:1-3 (ESV)
God Who Judges the Earth
TO THE CHOIRMASTER: ACCORDING TO DO NOT DESTROY. A MIKTAM OF DAVID.
1 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

Psalm 58 is a psalm about the judgement that is going to be meet on those who rule over mankind, but do so wickedly.   In the first three verses it is mentioned who these wicked are and what they have done in their positions of authority.   Often in the Psalms and in the Old. Testament, the “gods” written about can be spiritual, as in demonic hosts.   But, in the case of Psalms 58, we read in verse three that they are “from the womb” and have gone astray “from birth.”  This song is clearly being written to address human leaders who judge the people in a wicked way from their “hearts.”   The rest of the psalm outlines their destruction.   Or, at least the destruction that David is praying down upon them.   We don’t know the time frame of this.   It could be when Saul was hunting him down like a dead dog.   It could be the time his own son, Absalom, formed a coup and pursued him with armies.   We simply don’t know.  What we do know is that the rulers of the world, who devise wickedness in their heart, will be judged by God.  Rulers think they rule and are untouchable by anyone.  Yet, God holds their plight in His hands.   David simply prayers that God will, according to His power, judge those who judge wickedly and devise mischief in their hearts for those they lead.   In our country elections can be a tool to unset a leader.   But, in God’s world, God simply removes them and judges them.