Psalm 58: The Snake Psalm

(Psalm 58 is an angry psalm, and we need those. I tend to get angry with only one person at a time, so I have addressed it in the ‘2nd person singular’.)


‘Justice’ – you don’t know the meaning of the word!
Your words are toxic and your actions are worse!
You snake! You bit me!

I trusted you and held you close
but you slithered out of my grasp, turned, and –
WHAM! – strike! teeth. poison. pain!

And now you are all wound up in your own pain
and no one can get through to you.

Right now I just want to rip out your fangs
make sure you never again hurt anyone
like you hurt me.

Right not I want you to just go away,
slink back into the mud and vanish.

Right now I want to hurt you
I want to see your blood drip on the floor
I want to stand in a puddle of your humiliation.

Lord, stop me from lashing out.

Tell you what, Lord, how about YOU be the judge
for you alone do justice

You let yourself be swallowed by the Snake
You sucked out its poison
you poured out your blood, willingly
for us, for the forgiveness of sin
for restoration of relationship.

You are the snake charmer;
Your tune will still us
and bring us back to obedience.

Psalm 58: The Snake Psalm
 

Hate is like a snake, poison in its bite,
hissing lies that twist the truth.
It will not listen to the snake charmer
but lashes out with violence.
God will break its fangs
and it will slither away in a trail of slime.
 
So tame your tongue, writes James.
Use your words to bless, and speak with love.
James 3:8-10.

(For more on the snake read Revelations 12 & 20)
 

Photos:
The most famous serpent in Christian tradition is George's dragon. St George was the mascot for the Crusaders and the darling of many churches which value armed combat. In my travels in Europe and Israel I found many images of St George & the dragon, which I mostly found rather disturbing. I was intrigued at this one, in Portofino, Italy, where the dragon has grabbed hold of George's ankle even as it is being stabbed. Interesting psychology there! Great tongue!