Psalms 58:1

_DO YE INDEED SPEAK RIGHTEOUSNESS, O CONGREGATION? DO YE JUDGE UPRIGHTLY, O YE SONS OF MEN?_ Psalms 58:1.-Perversity of the unrighteous judges (Psalms 58:1); prayer for their overthrow; anticipation of it to the joy of the righteous, (Psalms 58:6); God's retributive justice vindicated (Psalms 58:11). The unjust judgments are the persecutions by Saul and his party, under the mask of just judgments for treason (1 Samuel 24:12; 1 Samuel 26:10). On the

1._Do ye indeed speak righteousness? _In putting this question to his enemies, by way of challenge, David displays the boldness of conscious rectitude. It argues that the justice of our cause is demonstratively evident when we venture to appeal to the opposite party himself; for were there any ground to question its justice, it would show an absurd degree of confidence to challenge the testimony of an adversary. David comes forward with the openness of one who was supported by a sense of his integrity, and repels, by a declaration forced from their own lips, the base charges with which they blackened his character in the estimation of such as were simple enough to believe them. “Ye yourselves,” as if he had said, “can attest my innocence, and yet persecute me with groundless calumnies. Are you not ashamed of such gross and gratuitous oppression?” It is necessary, however, to determine wh...

1-5 When wrong is done under the form of law, it is worse than any other; especially it is grievous to behold those who profess to be children of God, joining together against any of his people. We should thank the Lord for merciful restraints; we should be more earnest in seeking renewing grace, more watchful over ourselves, and more patient under the effects of fallen nature in others. The corruption of their nature was the root of bitterness. We may see in children the wickedness of the world beginning. They go astray from God and their duty as soon as possibly they can. And how soon will little children tell lies! It is our duty to take pains to teach them, and above all, earnestly to pray for converting grace to make our children new creatures. Though the poison be within, much of it may be kept from breaking forth to injure others. When the Saviour's words are duly regarded, the s...

PSALM LVIII _David reproves wicked counsellors and judges, who pervert_ _justice, and stir up the strong against the weak and innocent_, 1-5. _He foretells their destruction, and describes the nature of it_, 6-9. _The righteous, seeing this, will magnify God's justice and_ _providence_, 10, 11. NOTES ON PSALM LVIII The _title_ seems to have no reference to the subject of the Psalm. See the introduction to the preceding. Psalms 57:1 Saul having attempted the lif

DO YE INDEED SPEAK RIGHTEOUSNESS, O CONGREGATION? - Luther renders this, “Are you then dumb, that you will not speak what is right, and judge what is proper, ye children of men?” The meaning of the verse is exceedingly obscure; but probably the whole sense of the psalm turns on it. The word rendered “congregation,” אלם _'êlem_ - occurs only in this place and in the title to Psalms 56:1, “Jonath-elem-rechokim.” See the notes at that title. The word properly means “dumbness, silence.” Gesenius (Lexicon) renders it here, “Do ye indeed decree dumb justice?” that is, “Do ye really at length decree justice, which so long has seemed dumb?” Professor Alexander renders it, “Are ye indeed dumb when ye should speak righteousness?” The allusion is clearly to some public act of judging; to a judicial sentence; to magistrates and rulers; to

EXPOSITION A PSALM of condemnation on unrighteous judges. Some suppose the judges to be superhuman beings, entrusted with the government of the earth (Cheyne). Others suggest heathen rulers of Israel, in Babylonia, during the time of the Captivity. But the language is not stronger than that addressed often to native judges (see Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 10:1; Jeremiah 5:26-24; Micah 3:9, etc.). And there is no reason for rejecting the statement of the "title," that the psalm was written by David. It may either belong to the early years of David's reign, or to the time immediately preceding Absalom's rebellion.

DO YE INDEED SPEAK RIGHTEOUSNESS, O CONGREGATION?.... Of the mighty, as in Psalms 82:1; the judges of the land, who were many, and therefore called a congregation, as it is necessary they should; for, being many, they are not so easily bribed; and besides, one may see that in a cause which another does not. The word signifies a "sheaf" t; and so it is by some rendered, to which a bench or assembly of judges may be compared; because consisting of many, and a select body, who should unite together in a sentence or decree, and act uprightly, like a sheaf of wheat standing upright; see Genesis 37:7; some think the word has the signification of dumbness, or silence; so Jarchi and R. Moses u; as "elem" in Psalms 56:1, title, and render

Psalms 58 A Judgment Psalm __ 1. Why God must judge (Psalms 58:1) 2. The judgment executed (Psalms 58:6) “Do ye of a truth in silence speak righteousness?” (literal rendering of the first verse). Righteousness is not heard on earth. Wickedness and violence are on the earth, therefore God must arise and deal with these conditions in judgment. It will overtake the wicked and the imprecatory prayers will be answered. Then the righteous will be glad when he seeth the vengeance and it will be said, “Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily He is a God who judgeth the earth.”...

LVIII. A PRAYER FOR VENGEANCE ON UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGES. This Ps. is closely allied to Psalms 82. The reproaches in Psalms 58:3, where the enemies of the Psalmist are said to have gone astray from the womb, and Psalms 58:4, where they are compared with deaf adders, point to Jewish tyranny, such, _e.g.,_ as that of the Sadducean priests, rather than to a foreign power. Nobody would have expected heathen to hear the voice of Jewish religion. PSALMS 58:1. We ought certainly to read, Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O ye gods? (_mg.)._ The title was given in flattery (_cf._ 2 Samuel 17:14, where see _mg.),_ or wit

TITLE. MICHTAM. See App-65. DO YE INDEED... ? Figure of Speech. _Erotesis._ App-6. Render: _ "Are ye indeed silent [when] ye should speak righteousness? When ye should judge with equity,. ye sons of men?"_ _. CONGREGATION:_ or,. faction. Hebrew. _'elem._ Occurs only here and in the subscription of Psalms 55. silent. So human judges are dumb when they ought to speak, and deaf when they ought to hear (Psalms 58:4). MEN. Hebrew. _'adam._ App-14....