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Day 189

Psalm 58:1 "Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones?"

Day 189 – Psalm 58

“Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones?” Psalm 58:1

SUPERSCRIPTION

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do not destroy.” A Michtam of David.

Standard features may be noted.

1. Presentation of the psalm to the Chief Musician.

2. The name of the tune is the same as Psalm 57.

3. This is another Michtam of David (Psalms 56-60 are Davidic Michtam psalms).

A CHALLENGE TO THE JUDGES OF ISRAEL

Any upright citizen ought to be duly concerned about the judiciary system of the country. David certainly wrote to challenge those who held positions as judges of ancient Israel.

“Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones?
Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?”
Psalm 58:1

1. Identification

It is important for us to identify the people mentioned in this text. The use of the phrase “judge uprightly” would suggest that these are officials who represent the judiciary system of the ancient state of Israel.

a) These could be judges.
b) These could also be princes (from the royal family).

2. Task of those who form the judiciary

a) They are to speak righteously.
i) Speaking in this context would suggest deliverance of the verdict.
ii) The judges are to speak with great righteousness of heart and mind.
b) They are to judge righteously.
i) This should have been a foregone conclusion.
ii) To judge righteously ought to be the cornerstone of Israel’s judiciary system.

3. The silent ones

Sadly, where the judges were supposed to uphold justice, they chose to become “silent ones”. They should have spoken up against injustice in the land but they remained sinfully silent!