The LORD, the Wicked, and Me.
Psalm 36 presents us with three kinds of beings:
First, the wicked:
Psalm 36:1–4 (ESV) Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
Notice his self-infatuation. He does all he can for himself and seeks to make for himself a world centered on who he is. He flatters himself, he disregards God, and is full of evil. He plots trouble on his bed... that's an interesting phrase. It means that instead of taking the evening to settle and rest and reflect, he only seeks more wrongdoing.
The second being, God:
Psalm 36:5–9 (ESV) Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
First, the wicked:
Psalm 36:1–4 (ESV) Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated. 3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good. 4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
Notice his self-infatuation. He does all he can for himself and seeks to make for himself a world centered on who he is. He flatters himself, he disregards God, and is full of evil. He plots trouble on his bed... that's an interesting phrase. It means that instead of taking the evening to settle and rest and reflect, he only seeks more wrongdoing.
The second being, God:
Psalm 36:5–9 (ESV) Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
God is totally the opposite of the wicked. He is GREAT and powerful. Above all and beyond all in every way. The love of God is higher than the heavens (think of the size of the universe). The faithfulness and righteousness and judgments of God are unfathomable. And yet in His GREATNESS, God seeks to save. He is the ultimate hero of the Universe, setting aside His greatness in Christ, stooping down to reach the lowly. He cares for the smallest among us and feeds us. He takes great measures to illuminate us in His light.
The third being, The writer:
Psalm 36:10–12 (ESV) Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart! 11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
Knowing the care and concern of the Father for him, the Psalmist declares his reliance on the Lord. He knows he could go either way and looks to the Lord to keep him walking in the straight path. That is true discipleship. To know we are all tempted and swayed and we need the Lord's sustaining power working in our lives at all times.
May the Lord help us to keep our lives following after Him. For He is great and worthy, good and righteous in every way.
Comments
Post a Comment