Today’s reading is Psalm 58.
I have no idea what poem, song, or tune “Do Not Destroy” represents. However, it must have rocked the ancient Hebrew world. David and Asaph together set four psalms to “Do Not Destroy”: Psalms 57, 58, 59, 75. Have you read any of these psalms? You should have read at least two of them by now. Do you agree with me that setting Psalm 58 to the tune of “Do Not Destroy” is like someone today singing about how ugly their house, spouse, and baby are but the heading says sing it to the tune of “Everything is Beautiful.”
Question: if you actually heard a song with lyrics all about ugly things but recognized the tune as “Everything is Beautiful,” would you think the artist did so purposely? Would you think the artist intended us to take note and draw some kind of conclusion from the contrast? I can’t help but think the same thing in these psalms, especially Psalm 58. In this one, our psalmist begs God pretty directly to bring swift destruction on the wicked, evil, unjust judges but sets it to the tune “Do Not Destroy.”
Derek Kidner, in his brief commentary on the Psalms, highlights possible background passages for the statement “Do Not Destroy.” The one standing out the most to me comes from early in Israel’s history. After Israel rebelled against God at Sinai with the golden calf and then rebelled at the border of the Promised Land, Moses interceded for 40 days and nights, lying prostrate before God, praying, “O Lord GOD, do not destroy your people and your heritage, whom you have redeemed through your greatness whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Do not regard the stubbornness of this people, or their wickedness or their sin, lest the land from which you brought us say, ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.’ For they are your people and your heritage, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm” (Deuteronomy 9:26-29, ESV).
Each of these psalms connected to “Do Not Destroy” call for God to judge enemies. In Psalm 58, it may even be internal enemies. That is, David possibly refers to judges and rulers among God’s people who behave unjustly. If the enemies or these unjust judges continue in their activities, David and Israel will be destroyed. When Israel began, God chose not to destroy Israel despite their sin because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He decided not to destroy Israel to avoid defaming His glory. Even when the tragedy Israel or David faced came from their own stubbornness and sin, God remembered His covenant and held back His hand from destruction. Great. But what would happen if God allowed the enemies or these unjust judges to continue? He might as well destroy Israel Himself. While the song calls on God to judge and destroy enemies, the tune asks Him to remember His covenant with Israel and not destroy her. Bringing judgment on the enemies protected David and Israel.
By the time Israel gets to Isaiah 65:8, “Do not destroy” had become part of a mantra, “Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it.” The saying referred to new wine found in the cluster. God applied it to Judah. Even when Judah deserved it, God would judge Judah, but not to utter destruction. In like manner, though Israel, Judah, David, Asaph may deserve judgment at the hands of the enemies decried in the psalms, the tune of the song called to mind God’s promised covenant. God promised to bless the nations through Israel, He would not destroy her. God promised that blessing would come through David, He would not destroy him.
Whether the psalmists intended to call to mind the ancient event with Moses or not, the tune title strikes a contrast with the contents of the psalm. The contrast reminds me God keeps His covenant promises. All the more reason for us to hang on to Jesus our covenant ratifier. Through Him, we can ask God to protect us from our enemy. And He will.
Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 58.
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PATHS:
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How does Psalm 58 prompt, provoke, or improve praise for God in you?
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