Psalms 58

Some understand this Psalme in this sense, to admonish Judges and Magistrates of their duties and offices: minding them of their high power received from God: who they are against whom they must exercise it, even wicked men, such as are here described. And so shall men count them worthy the title of gods, and acknowledge God in them, and their doings: Yet I would not in this Psalme, exclude all, or any relation had to Saul, and his wicked Courtiers.

Psalms 58:1

Doye] He appeals to their consciences.

speak righteousnesse] Or dumb justice: boasting so to do, when indeed justice was dumb, and opened not her mouth.

O congregation] O assembly, company of Sauls Courtiers and Counsellors; complying with the King against David.

Psalms 58:2

you weigh] Not justice; but wrong for right, to serve your violence as you are able.

Psalms 58:3

from the womb] Esay XLVIII. 8. John IX. 34. Ephes. IV. 18. inbred, inveterate, incorrigible, Jer. XIII. 23.

Psalms 58:5

Charmers] The Addars craft against them is recorded by divers Authors. Some sinners like the Addars, Acts VII. 57. Charmers seem to practise thus upon Addars, Eccles. X. 11. Jer. VIII. 17. And Charmers are forbidded by Gods Law, Deut. XVIII. 11. Yet this may seeme a proverbial speech used by David, without any purpose to maintaine either the truth of the thing in matter of fact, no more then Sirenum voces, or Cygnea cantio do prove such things to be; or else the lawfulnesse of it in relation to God and his Law. And Proverbs and Similitudes may be taked from things in themselves unlawful; as from a thief, Apoc. XVI. 15. the unjust Steward, Luke XVI. 18.

Psalms 58:6

O God] The plural word Elohim here used is most times meant of one true God in the singular number. See Gen. XX. 13. and XXXV. 7. And so may be understood that in Exod. XXXII. 1. and verse 4. comparing therewith Neh. IX. 18.

Psalms 58:9

Before your pots can feele the thornes] The general meaning is plain, of the suddennesse of the destruction of those wicked men, in the former verses. Yet this proves a thorny text, to expound aright the simiiude of thornes here used, and the rest of the words contained in this verse. Pots, thornes, living, are words here of various significations; whence three maine renditions and interpretations do arise, thus: Before your pots can feele the fire of thornes, which is short, Eccles. VII. 6. so shall God take them away, as raw (flesh) by the heat of his indignation. Or thus, as quick, or as yet living, and flourishing, in his wrath. Or thus, Ere men shall perceive your young springs of thornes grow to a perfect pricking bramble, God will as with a whirlewinde destroy every one of them, even as alive or quick, even in wrath as in burning anger.

Thus speaking to the wicked, of their sudden destruction. Or thus, As raw flesh is snatched out of the pot, or flesh snatched out of the pot, being yet raw, before the heat of that light bramble-fire be come to it; so God, &c. Thus variously we may extend our mindes and meanings; without any peremptory determination of any one particular.

Psalms 58:10

wash his feet] As Psal. LXVIII. 23. See Esay LXIII. 3. Mal. IV. 3. Apoc. XIV. 20.