The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
Psalms 36 offers a stark contrast between the pervasive nature of wickedness and the boundless character of God's love. David, the author, delves into the heart of human sinfulness while simultaneously celebrating the steadfast love and righteousness of the Lord. This psalm, echoing themes found in other writings of David (Psalms 3:3; 7:10; 40:9–10), serves as both a lament and a confident declaration of faith, concluding with a prayer for God's continued protection and justice.
The Depths of Wickedness (36:1-4)
The psalm opens with a sobering assessment of the ungodly. David points out that the root of their wickedness lies in a fundamental lack of reverence for God. "There is no fear of God before his eyes" (Psalms 36:1). This disregard for God's authority leads to a distorted self-perception. The wicked person is characterized by a flattering opinion of himself, leading to a continuous cycle of sin. The absence of God's dread allows sin to fester, becoming addictive. They assume their actions will escape punishment or even detection. This descent into depravity is so profound that they even plot evil while they sleep (Psalms 36:4). Their conscience offers no restraint, and they boldly speak and plan wickedness (Psalms 36:3-4). In essence, they have a low view of God and a high view of self.
The Perfection of God's Character (36:5-9)
In stark contrast to the darkness of human sin, David turns his gaze to the radiant light of God's character. He meditates on God, comparing His faithful love, faithfulness, righteousness, and judgments to the grandest aspects of the created world (Psalms 36:5-6). God's attributes are described as reaching to the heavens, His faithfulness to the clouds, His righteousness like the mighty mountains, and His judgments like the great deep. God's character is flawless and perfect.
God's mercy extends to all creation, both human and animal, as seen in His provision in nature (Psalms 36:6). But beyond mere provision, David emphasizes God's "steadfast love," or hesed in Hebrew, a term that encapsulates loyal love and lovingkindness. This precious love is a treasure beyond measure, far surpassing any earthly wealth. David, as king, understood the value of earthly riches, yet recognized the immeasurable worth of God's faithful love.
The imagery shifts to a comforting picture of refuge: "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings" (Psalms 36:7). This evokes the image of a mother bird protecting her young, offering safety and security. Those who seek God as their source will experience an abundance of provision and find true satisfaction (Psalms 36:8). For "with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (Psalms 36:9). God is the very source of life, and it is only through His light that we can truly see and understand.
A Prayer for Continued Protection (36:10-12)
David concludes the psalm with a heartfelt prayer, requesting God to extend His protective love to those who know Him intimately (Psalms 36:10). He prays for the continued outpouring of God's "steadfast love" and righteousness upon His people. He pleads for protection from the attacks of the wicked, asking that they not prevail but be defeated by divine judgment (Psalms 36:11-12). The psalm ends with a confident declaration of the enemies' ultimate downfall, picturing them as utterly vanquished, unable to rise again. This reflects a deep trust in God's justice and His power to defend those who trust in Him.
Psalms 36 serves as a powerful reminder of the ever-present reality of both good and evil. It calls us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that the fear of the Lord guides our actions. Moreover, it encourages us to fix our eyes on the unwavering love and righteousness of God, finding refuge in His presence and trusting in His ultimate victory over wickedness.
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
Psalms 36 offers a stark contrast between the pervasive nature of wickedness and the boundless character of God's love. David, the author, delves into the heart of human sinfulness while simultaneously celebrating the steadfast love and righteousness of the Lord. This psalm, echoing themes found in other writings of David (Psalms 3:3; 7:10; 40:9–10), serves as both a lament and a confident declaration of faith, concluding with a prayer for God's continued protection and justice.
The Depths of Wickedness (36:1-4)
The psalm opens with a sobering assessment of the ungodly. David points out that the root of their wickedness lies in a fundamental lack of reverence for God. "There is no fear of God before his eyes" (Psalms 36:1). This disregard for God's authority leads to a distorted self-perception. The wicked person is characterized by a flattering opinion of himself, leading to a continuous cycle of sin. The absence of God's dread allows sin to fester, becoming addictive. They assume their actions will escape punishment or even detection. This descent into depravity is so profound that they even plot evil while they sleep (Psalms 36:4). Their conscience offers no restraint, and they boldly speak and plan wickedness (Psalms 36:3-4). In essence, they have a low view of God and a high view of self.
The Perfection of God's Character (36:5-9)
In stark contrast to the darkness of human sin, David turns his gaze to the radiant light of God's character. He meditates on God, comparing His faithful love, faithfulness, righteousness, and judgments to the grandest aspects of the created world (Psalms 36:5-6). God's attributes are described as reaching to the heavens, His faithfulness to the clouds, His righteousness like the mighty mountains, and His judgments like the great deep. God's character is flawless and perfect.
God's mercy extends to all creation, both human and animal, as seen in His provision in nature (Psalms 36:6). But beyond mere provision, David emphasizes God's "steadfast love," or hesed in Hebrew, a term that encapsulates loyal love and lovingkindness. This precious love is a treasure beyond measure, far surpassing any earthly wealth. David, as king, understood the value of earthly riches, yet recognized the immeasurable worth of God's faithful love.
The imagery shifts to a comforting picture of refuge: "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings" (Psalms 36:7). This evokes the image of a mother bird protecting her young, offering safety and security. Those who seek God as their source will experience an abundance of provision and find true satisfaction (Psalms 36:8). For "with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light" (Psalms 36:9). God is the very source of life, and it is only through His light that we can truly see and understand.
A Prayer for Continued Protection (36:10-12)
David concludes the psalm with a heartfelt prayer, requesting God to extend His protective love to those who know Him intimately (Psalms 36:10). He prays for the continued outpouring of God's "steadfast love" and righteousness upon His people. He pleads for protection from the attacks of the wicked, asking that they not prevail but be defeated by divine judgment (Psalms 36:11-12). The psalm ends with a confident declaration of the enemies' ultimate downfall, picturing them as utterly vanquished, unable to rise again. This reflects a deep trust in God's justice and His power to defend those who trust in Him.
Psalms 36 serves as a powerful reminder of the ever-present reality of both good and evil. It calls us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that the fear of the Lord guides our actions. Moreover, it encourages us to fix our eyes on the unwavering love and righteousness of God, finding refuge in His presence and trusting in His ultimate victory over wickedness.