DEAF COBRAS?
Key Verse: “So that men will say, Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth.” (v.11)
Key Theme: A plea for God to override the injustice of judges.
Key Descriptive of God: Righteous Judge on Earth
Another important and most relevant chapter. The first two verses, “JUSTICE— do you rulers (judges) know the meaning of the word? Do you JUDGE the people fairly? No! You plot INJUSTICE in your hearts. You spread violence throughout the land.” All 11 verses are on theme with the words I have capitalized. My conjecture is this. David’s band of discontented, distressed, and in debt men have been telling him their stories. He is hearing a theme of injustice over and over again. We know they had some kind of legal system with judges to rule on matters and that there were advocates/lawyers to help present cases. David seems incensed at the unjust rulings he has been hearing about and this Psalm is his “justice rant” regarding it all.
YOU SPREAD VIOLENCE
Insightful that David equates unjust rulings with “spreading violence”. We can see that today. Justices that rule that babies can be killed in the womb is an obvious one. It is the worst spreading of violence on the planet. The most unsafe place for a human being when he/she is at its most vulnerable is in the womb of his/her mother. That must end. Unjust rulings also cause societal upheavals and violent protests as we have seen in our own day. In every way imaginable a judge making an unjust ruling “spreads violence”.
SPEAKING LIES
“The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, SPEAKING LIES.” This passage has been used as a doctrinal basis for “original sin”. David was not laying out doctrine here but venting— so not the best verse to build that case from. He is not saying “everyone is born wicked” as some theological point but rather “these judges seem like they were born crooked and speaking lies.” Corruption is so innate in them that it seems like it started in the womb.
DEAF COBRAS?
In verses 4 and 5, David rants against the judges and calls them “deaf cobras” with “poison”. In the NLT it says “They spit venom”. Snake “venom” is Biblically equated with false teaching or unjust rulings. In this case, it is the latter. The “snake charmers” of verse 5 are the advocates for a fair ruling. Yes, lawyers are in the Bible — “the voice of charmers, charming ever so skillfully” (v.5) When they do rightly they are seeking mercy and truth for the wrongfully accused. They are trying to “charm” the judge and/or the jury.
BREAK LIONS LYIN’ TEETH
“Break their TEETH in their mouth, O God! Break out the FANGS of the young lions, O Lord!” (v.6-8) David, using vivid symbolism, is calling for God to undo what these evil and corrupt judges have done. He calls them “young lions” as lions were and are associated with government. Interesting that in the famous Psalm 91 it says will we “tread” on the “lion” and “cobra” (same Hebrew word used). Snakes are crooked tails/tales that bite. They are not just “lies” but deceptive lies. They come in low, slither in, blend in, and then suddenly strike. A lion does damage with its’ teeth. This would represent the legal ruling. David wants the ruling/teeth broken and undone but also wants the “fangs” broken OUT. This speaks into the unjust laws themselves. In other words, he was ranting/praying/declaring against bad judges and bad laws.
BURNING THORNS
“Before your pots can feel the burning thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, as in His living and burning wrath” (v.9). David’s imagery here is so vivid that it can be hard to follow. Basically, desert-dry thorns were a great source of quick fires to cook on. David was prophesying that God would come in like a whirlwind and put out the “thorny fire” before it could even accomplish its objective of cooking. Interesting that in our day “cooking the books” is the term for the practice of fraudulently altering records. Sometimes judges and prosecutors are “cooking up” charges. In scripture, thorns speak of sin, bad and evil. In Judges 9, in the parable of the bramble (thorny bush/tree), the thorny bramble represents specifically corrupt rulers and their rulings. They should be trees providing shade but instead, they are bringing pain— because they are corrupt thorns.
THE GODLY WILL REJOICE
“THE GODLY WILL REJOICE when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked. So that men will say, Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges IN THE EARTH” (v.11) This closing of the chapter is quite easy to comprehend except perhaps the “washing feet in blood” line. David’s imagery again is profound and maybe a little too much for some. We definitely have to process all David says throughout the Psalms with the New Testament understanding that people are never the enemy. There is one enemy. The devil and his horribles. But David’s vivid depiction is about the “blood” of injustice flowing. It means it can’t harm again as the spilt blood means it has no more life. We “wash our feet” in it because it cleanses and strengthens “our walk” to see JUSTICE established— by INJUSTICE being eliminated. Like David in his day, perhaps many of us in 2020 have learned in new shocking ways the injustice present in our own judicial system, as judges unconstitutionally provide “thorns” for the people rather than “shade”. May a whirlwind of heaven come in and remove their “thorny fire”. Father, during this 67-day journey, may Your same face that shines upon US with favor, shine on THEM with the clear choice of repent or be removed.
Written by: Johnny Enlow
Featured Image by chris ganser on Unsplash
67 DAY COUNTDOWN SERIES
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The 67 Day Countdown Series is brought to you by Johnny and Elizabeth Enlow, founders of Restore7 ministry, as well as international speakers and best-selling authors. Among Johnny’s books are The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, Rainbow God, The Seven Mountain Renaissance, Becoming A Superhero, and RISE. Elizabeth serves as CEO and penned Rainbow God: The Seven Colors of Love and God in Every Season.
