Psalms 58 · Grade 4

When Leaders Are Unjust

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 58 calls it a poem by David, set to the tune Do Not Destroy. It begins by challenging people in power: Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly? Instead, they plot injustice and measure out violence with their hands.

David compares their lies to the poison of a deaf cobra that stops its ear and won't listen to the charmer. They will not hear correction. So David turns to God and asks him to take away their power to harm, using strong pictures from his culture: arrows made blunt and water that flows away.

These hard words are a prayer, not a plan for revenge. David brings his anger about injustice to God instead of acting on it himself. The psalm ends with confidence that people will say, Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.

Show What You Know

Whom does the psalm challenge at the beginning?
Why is the deaf cobra a good picture?
Why are David's hard words a prayer and not revenge?
What will people say at the end?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godrewardjudgesspeak

It begins by challenging people in power: Do you indeed righteousness, silent ones?
David brings his anger about injustice to instead of acting on it himself.
The psalm ends with confidence that people will say, Most certainly there is a for the righteous.
Most certainly there is a God who the earth.

Think About It

What should you do when you see something unfair?
Why is it good news that God judges the earth?

Memory Verse

“No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands on the earth.”

Psalms 58:2 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being a fair judge. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What can you do when someone in charge is unfair to you?
What is an imprecatory psalm?