1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5 that will not heed the tune of the charmer,
however skillful the enchanter may be.
from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5 that will not heed the tune of the charmer,
however skillful the enchanter may be.
6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions!
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;
when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.
8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,
like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.
LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions!
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;
when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.
8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,
like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.
10 The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.
10 The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”
Here are the notes by Eduardo Ramirez :-
Today is Sunday, the Lord's Day, a time to slow down our daily
rhythm and consider the context in which we live. This consideration
may become somewhat uncomfortable, yet necessary, as we’ll see
in today's meditation. Place yourself in the psalmist’s place, as you
consider your emotions and reactions to the injustices around you.
In order to guide our meditation, let’s divide the psalm into
three sections.
First, injustices are the product of human activity
(vs 1-5). We all have a human tendency to do the wrong thing, what
the apostle Paul calls 'sinful nature'. It is easier to see this ‘sinful
nature' at work in others; use this ability to see the injustices in
your environment. As the psalm does, look at the politicians in your
society, and remember that sinful nature manifests itself in human
intentionality, heart, hands, words, actions and decisions.
Secondly, some of our prayers flow out of the conditions we see
around us (vs 5-6). The reality of sinfulness and injustice will stir our
emotions and desires to bring things right. At times these emotions
may become very strong, and difficult to control. It is in these
emotions that we may find the source of our prayer life. We come
to God charged with emotions and attitudes that emerge out of real
circumstances. The wicked actions of some society leaders bring us
to our knees, with heavy hearts.
Thirdly, the 'righteous, live in hope (vs 10,11). The righteous are
individuals who trust and follow God in their personal alignment. They
are alert and vibrant, able to respond to events in their lives with strong
emotions. These are not emotions of desperation or determinism:
rather, they are emotions that reveal the new life coming from God,
which sees events and circumstances from God's perspective.
How was your experience of coming into God's presence with strong
emotions? Consider how your emotions and responses to injustices hell
you to be stronger in God’s path.
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