RR Psalm 58:7-10 Part 3

(Early) Shabbat Shalom,

Psalm 58:7 O God, break their teeth in their mouths. Tear out the fangs of young lions, Adonai. 8 Let them flow away like water that runs off. When he bends his bow, let the arrows be cut off. 9 Like a slug melting away as it slithers, like a woman’s miscarriage, may they never see the sun. 10 Even before your pots can feel a thorn—whether alive or ablaze—He will sweep the wicked away.

I’m dealing with these four verses of Psalm 58 all together because David is expressing himself poetically as he prays over what he wants God to do to his enemies.  David did not quite have the fullness of the love of Yeshua.  Contrast our subject verses with this teaching from Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount….

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the pagans do that, don’t they? 48 Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Rabbi Trail: The second Hebrew word of Psalm 58, verse 7 is “Haras” (translated “break”).  I bring it up here as it could be related etymologically to our English word, “harass,” which means, “To subject (another) to hostile or prejudicial remarks or actions; pressure or intimidate.”  

I read this definition on the internet, so it must be true.  More seriously, it was offered without reference or credit, so, while I can’t take credit for it, I don’t know how to assign it either.  Upon further research, I believe it should be credited as follows… The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.  I wish to thank them publicly.  End RT.

Previously, in Psalm 57, verse 5, David told us the teeth of our enemies are spears and arrows.  Now, in Psalm 58, verse 7, he is calling upon God to break their “teeth” in their mouths, meaning before they can spew them forth them as weapons.  

Notwithstanding that plain imagery, there is some difficult imagery in verse 10 concerning “pots” that are “alive or ablaze.”  David explains what he means, at the end of the verse, when he says plainly, “He will sweep the wicked away.”  The “meat in the pots” is David’s enemies in the form of the new kingship of Absalom.  David is saying (figuratively) may they, whether raw (alive) or ablaze (fully cooked), be swept away.  Need anyone say more?  Shabbat shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Fri17-July 20263rd of Av, 5786
De 2:31-3:14Ez 281 Ch 7Col 3 (Lk 23:26-56)