WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29

Psalm 58:1-11

1 Kings 21:1-25

“A just weight and balance

are the LORD’S …”

DAVID VERSUS UNSCRUPULOUS JUDGES

David speaks against the miscarriage of justice by unscrupulous judges effectively by perpetuating their crimes in psalmody. If there is made a catalogue of every criminal to determine which among these can earn the title of public enemy number one, we must agree with David that he is the unscrupulous judge of Psalm 58, whom he unceremoniously denounces.

Now, the balance is the universal symbol of justice. “Scrupulous” comes from the word “scruple,” whose first meaning is a unit of the apothecaries’ weight of twenty grains. When a druggist weighs a doctor’s prescription of some medicinal powder, he cannot but weigh it exactly (no more, no less) to the last grain. If he is measuring some tincture or other fluid he must give (no more, no less) to the last drop. With the same conscientiousness must a judge weigh the evidences and give an unbiased judgment and sentence. When a judge has no scruples, through bribery or other influence he can condone criminals and wreak havoc in society, yea, even topple a nation.

We rejoice with David the righteous king in his scathing exposure of wicked judges with the strongest epithets. He compares their wickedness to the poison of serpents and their devouring of justice to the great teeth of young lions. He roundly curses them to melt like running water and as snails (crawling over a rock under the hot sun) to shrivel, etc. The fiercest of David’s imprecations is that the righteous (the innocent, falsely accused) will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. When that is executed upon the wicked the balance of justice is restored, so men can say that God the Supreme Judge of the earth is reigning.

Does this Psalm speak to those who have to make judgment (decisions) even in the smallest matters? Remember, justice must be scrupulously dispensed. Hence the balance, fifty-fifty, is the symbol of justice.

THOUGHT: What is the use of a balance?
PRAYER: Lord, may all in positions of judgment judge exactly and accurately.