This is one of the Psalms written by David while he was fleeing from Saul.
“Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly? No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. Mankind will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.’ “
The first part of the Psalm describes Saul and his party specifically, as human judges (gods). David challenges their authority and divine inspiration for their judgements, basically asking “How do you know you are right, and are you actually right? No! In your hearts you are wicked.” Note that David also calls them gods – perhaps Saul, who was a very large, well-built man and mentally unstable began to think or act in such a way as to portray he thought of himself as a god, I’m not exactly sure, but I know for a fact David did not consider Saul to be divine or divinely led at this point.
Next we receive a rather interesting word picture of evil people – a deaf adder spewing venom – that’s flattering I’m sure. Then David continues with more symbolism as he asks God to deal with such people – break the serpent’s teeth, tear out the lion’s fangs, vanish like water that evaporates, have dull arrows, a snail that melts into slime, etc. Basically, David is asking the Lord to take away the power these people possess – their ability to inflict harm – rendering them harmless.
Then it gets a little morbid as David proclaims the righteous will rejoice at God’s vengeance and “bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked”. Well, I’m not sure I would do that second part, hopefully that is only figurative, but the rejoicing sounds good to me.
Finally, David points out that mankind will observe the destruction of the wicked and realize there is a God, a righteous judge of the earth.
Father, this world is filled with evil – every time we turn on the news, open a web browser or even walk down the street we can see it. Father, this world is also willed with Your goodness. May You please continue teaching us to be Your hands, feet and mouthpiece in this world, so that we may glorify You in our rebellion against evil. May the world see Your heart for Your people through the way we conduct ourselves, that we may be distinguished from all those who spew venom. May Your love be our weapon of choice as we seek to do Your will, not ours. Praise be to the one true God, the judge and vindicator of heaven and earth.
~ Conqueror in Training