No Good Intent

 

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
    they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
    like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
    or of the cunning enchanter.
6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
    tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!

Psalm 59:14 Each evening they come back,

    howling like dogs

    and prowling about the city.

15 They wander about for food

    and growl if they do not get their fill.

16 But I will sing of your strength;

    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.

For you have been to me a fortress

    and a refuge in the day of my distress.

As with the psalms we looked at last weekend, David is writing about his foes who were out to get him. In chapter 58 he likens them to snakes, who lie like the great serpent did, while in chapter 59 it is to a pack of wild dogs, who linger around his home, waiting for the kill.  These psalms represent those years David was on the run, hiding from both the Philistines and Saul and his men.  They spread evil rumors about David, and watched his home, hoping to catch him trying to come see his family.  David's final resolve in each was to trust in God's strength, love, protection, and justice.