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Day 190

Psalm 58:2a "In heart you work wickedness..."

Day 190 – Psalm 58

“In heart you work wickedness…” Psalm 58:2a

ENEMIES OF DAVID

David often wrote about his “enemies”. His enemies were of two types:-

1. External enemies

a) Traditional external enemies (e.g. The Philistines).
b) The hostility from surrounding nations date back to the days of Moses and Joshua.

2. Internal enemies

a) From the house of Saul.
b) From wicked and lawless people.

A ROYAL REBUKE

The following text may reveal how David could have made enemies from those who held powerful positions in the country- the Judges!

“No, in heart you work wickedness;
You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.”
Psalm 58:2

David was unafraid of speaking boldly against those who abused their judicial authority! Imagine how the judges must have felt when they were rebuked by King David publicly!

1. Charge of wickedness

a) A wickedness that was not just skin-deep.
b) It was a wickedness that stemmed from a sinful heart.

2. Charge of violence

a) It was easy for a judge to abuse his authority.
b) He can use the law to mete out harsh punitive measures.
c) These measures were of course unlawful.
d) These measures may indeed be described as “violent”.

3. Extent of wickedness and violence

We have an intimation that the problem was not a local one. The phrase “in the earth” would suggest that this abuse of judicial authority was wide-spread!