Homilist Psalm 58:1-11 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?… I. THE CHARACTER OF DEPRAVED MEN PORTRAYED. 1. Unrighteous in judgment. 2. Wrong in heart. 3. Violent in the treatment of men. 4. Early in apostasy. 5. False in life. 6. Malignant in spirit. 7. Deceitful in heart. II. THE DESTRUCTION OF WICKED MEN INVOKED. 1. Their entire destruction. 2. Their quick destruction. III. THE SPIRIT OF RIGHTEOUS MEN MISREPRESENTED. The psalmist utters a calumny in representing them as delighting in blood. If righteous Noah had delighted in the sufferings of his enemies, would he have built an ark? No; righteous men are not men of vengeance, they are not men of blood. IV. THE VERDICT OF ALL MEN ANTICIPATED. "So that a man shall say, Verily, there is a reward for the righteous." 1. This is a testimony that often seems to be at variance with the providential government of the human race. 2. This is a testimony that every man sooner or later will be bound by his own conscience to render. Retribution is inevitable — (1) From the law of causation. We are to-day the result of our conduct yesterday, and the cause of our conduct to-morrow; and thus ever must we reap the works of our own hands. (2) From the law of conscience. The past works of our hands are not lost. Memory gathers up the fragments of our life; and conscience stings or smiles, according to their character. (3) From the law of righteousness. There is justice in the universe; and justice will ever punish the wicked and reward the good (Galatians 6:7). (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.} Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?WEB: Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men? |
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