Psalm 58, the hidden violence of self-righteous politics

Wicked rulers operate by cloaking their violence in the terminology of righteousness. Though they are preparing a path of violence, they want to appear benevolent and good. As in David’s day, so in ours, where terms like “climate justice,” and “Maori rights” are used to legitimize theft and the threat of violence. Our solution should be the same as David’s, but the church cannot act effectively without unity over the limits of the state’s right to bear the sword.