To the chief musician, a psalm of David, the servant of the LORD
36
📚The transgression of the wicked says within my heart,
that there is no
fear of God before his eyes.
36:1 In this psalm we have a very striking contrast between the wickedness of men (vs 1-4), and the grace of God (vs 5-10). Some people blame God for the darkness, the corruption, and the disasters which are prevalent in the world. We see here where the blame really rests. Wicked men are responsible for it all. Notes on the fear of God at Ps 34:11-14; 111:10; Gen 20:11; Prov 1:7.⚜
2 📚For he flatters himself
in his own eyes,
until his wickedness is found
to be hateful.
3 📚The words of his mouth
are wicked and
deceitful.
He has ceased to be wise,
and to do good.
4 📚He devises wickedness
on his bed.
He sets himself in a way
that is not good.
He does not abhor evil.
5 📚Your mercy, O LORD,
is in the heavens,
and your faithfulness 📖
reaches to the clouds.
36:5 The wicked plot evil, God plans good. It is immense folly to blame God for the evil of the wicked. His grace is as measureless as the heavens.⚜
6 📚Your righteousness is like
the great mountains.
Your judgments are a great
deep.
O LORD, you preserve man
and beast.
36:6 All that God does is in perfect justice.⚜
7 📚How excellent is your
loving kindness, O God!
Therefore the children
of men put their trust 📖 under
the shadow of your wings.
36:7 Who can put a price on God’s grace and love? Compare Eph 1:6-8.⚜
8 📚They shall be abundantly satisfied
with the fulness of your house;
and you will cause them
to drink from the river of your
pleasures.
36:8 All good things men enjoy are gifts of God (Jam 1:17).⚜
9 📚For with you is the fountain
of life.
In your light we will see
light.
36:9 Here is one of the many great verses of the Old Testament. Much of John’s Gospel and letters is a filling out of this verse (John 1:4-5; 3:16; 4:13-14; 5:21, 26; 7:37-38; 8:12; 1 John 1:1-6; 5:11, 20). Without spiritual life from God we are dead people in a dead world. Without His light all we do is darkness, and we do not know who or what we are or where we are going. See John 3:3-8, 19; 12:35-36.⚜
10 📚Oh, continue your loving
kindness to those who
know you,
and your righteousness
to the upright in heart.
11 📚Let not the foot of pride
come against me,
and let not the hand
of the wicked drive
me away.
36:10-11 A prayer to be kept continuously in God’s favor and protected from the wicked described in vs 1-4.⚜
12 📚There the evildoers have fallen.
They are thrown down,
and will not be
able to rise.
36:12 David sees before the eyes of his understanding the complete overthrow of the wicked. He is as certain of God’s judgment on them as if it had already happened.⚜