The author of Psalm 36 is David - God's faithfulness, justice and love are contrasted with the sinful hearts of men and women. In spite of our fallen condition, God pours out his love on those who know him.
Psalm 36:1 - "An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is not fear of God before his eyes."
Because the wicked have no fear of God, nothing restrains them from sinning. They plunge ahead as if nothing will happen to them. But God is just and is only delaying their punishment. This knowledge should hold us back from sinning. Let the fear of God do its work in you to keep you from sin. In your gratitude for God's love, don't ignore his justice.
Psalm 36:5-8 - "Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6-Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. 7-How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8-They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights."
In contrast to evil people and their wicked ploys that end in failure. God is faithful, righteous, and just. His love reaches to the heavens, his faithfulness reaches to the skies, his righteousness is as solid as mighty mountains and his judgments are as full of wisdom as the oceans with water ("the great deep"). We need not fear evil people because we know God loves us, judges evil, and will care for us throughout eternity.
In Psalm 36:9, it says, "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." This vivid image - "fountain of life" - gives us a sense of fresh, cleansing water that gives life to the spiritually thirsty. This same picture is used in Jeremiah 2:13, where God is called the "spring of living water." Jesus spoke of himself as living water that could quench thirst forever and give eternal life. (John 4:14)
Psalm 36 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 An oracle is within my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself
too much to detect or hate his sin.
3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
he has ceased to be wise and do good. .
4 Even on his bed he plots evil;
he commits himself to a sinful course
and does not reject what is wrong.
5 Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise.