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We are continuing our series of reflections on the Psalms. Each day we will upload a new reflection to the website. We hope and pray that you will find them helpful and that they bring hope during this season. Click on these buttons to read the text of the psalm or listen to a recording of it. You can also listen to the reflection using the audio player below. Read Psalm 58  Listen to Psalm 58 This is a prayer of David asking God, the supreme judge, to set right the affairs of men, judging those rulers who corrupt justice, and championing the cause of the righteous. This psalm comes out of outrage that is felt when judges have decided the innocent David is guilty. They have not weighed the evidence truthfully and their mouths, hearts and hands are united in the pursuit of injustice. David feels their intention was to work wickedness and in their actions they dispense violence in the earth. There may be times when we feel anger at injustices we see in this world. It can be hard to decide how best to help bring justice in a way that is pleasing to God, but there may be things we can do to try and help bring justice for those being treated or judged unfairly. David says the judges are wicked from their birth - telling lies which are like poison as venom from a snake. The judges and rulers have power to oppress others and their words are deadly and unpredictable. They are ‘deaf’ and will not listen to God. He then calls on God to ruin the wicked and take vengeance and break their teeth so they cannot hurt people any more with their deadly bite. Like a slug which dries up into nothing as it moves along a rock in the heat of the sun and the image of a still born baby (quite shocking) – he wants the wicked to die quickly and be ‘swept away’ (verse 9). In Old Testament times they only had vague ideas about life after death. For them justice has to be done in this life, before their eyes, but later on, Jesus taught that justice will be brought by God after death (Matthew 25:31-46). David is confident that righteousness will be rewarded and God will give the right judgement. He says the righteous will be glad when they see justice done and will rejoice in God’s victory over those who wickedly oppress others. I do not think we should be smug when we see evil folk suffer, because we are told to love our enemies and forgive them. When Jesus suffered the ultimate injustice and was dying on the cross, he was able to say ‘Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ Lord, please give us a passion to try and help put injustice right. ‘Heal my heart and make it clean Open up my eyes to the things unseen Show me how to love like You have loved me Break my heart for what breaks Yours Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause As I walk from earth into eternity.’ From ‘Hosanna’ Brooke Ligertwood.