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Day 194

Psalm 58:7a "Let them flow away..."

Day 194 – Psalm 58

“Let them flow away…” Psalm 58:7a

STRONG IMAGERY

Four strong ideas were employed as part of the imprecatory rhetoric.

“Let them flow away as waters which run continually;
When he bends his bow, let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.
Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes,
Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.”
Psalm 58:7-8

1. Image of water which runs continually

a) Perhaps the image of a leaky container.
b) In due time the container is emptied of all its content.

2. Image of an archer

a) He may bend his bow.
b) But he would accomplish nothing if his arrows break.

3. Image of a snail

a) Snails leave a slimy trail as they move along.
b) It seems as if the snail is melting away.

4. Image of a stillborn baby

a) The mother may be looking forward to giving birth to a baby.
b) But the child is stillborn.
c) The whole pregnancy is abortive!

WHAT IS THE POINT?

The psalmist David waxes poetic as he cries out to the Lord concerning his wicked enemies. The point of employing such poignant imagery may be found in the following thoughts:-

1. A deep desire to see an end of wicked activities.

2. A strong desire to communicate to God the strength of this imprecatory prayer.

3. A hope that God would be sympathetic to these desperate imprecatory cries.