Psalm 36: Steadfast Love of God

Psalm 36: steadfast love of God

a. v. 1-4, Wicked

  b. v. 5-7, Steadfast love and righteousness

    c. v. 8, River (of God)

    c’. v.9, Fountain of life

  b’. v. 10, steadfast love and righteousness

a’. v.11-12, arrogance and evildoers

 

A. Look at a relatively long description of a wicked guy:

v. 1: [wickedness is] deep in his heart – weeds were not pulled at right time

No fear of God before his eyes. Eyes are “dangerous” in the Bible – see Genesis 3:6, everything begins with seeing the fruit. Also, the fear of God is a healthy respect and awe;

v. 2: He flatters himself – as a result he doesn’t even see where he misses;

v. 3: The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;

No wise actions and no good conduct;

v. 4: He plots trouble – he plans ahead the evil things.    

B. Four elements of God’s involvements (vv. 5- 6): 

Steadfast love – heavens

Faithfulness – clouds

Righteousness – mountains

Judgements – great deep 

vv. 7. All the aspects of different elements of creation – examples of transcendence

At the same time, there are illustrations of His immanence:

Children of mankind – refuge in the shadow of your wings

C. v. 8, abundant feast in His house + river. See Revelation 21 – New Jerusalem as the Temple and the River flows through

C’. v. 9, the fountain of life – the source of light, in a desert environment “a well” which is dug is a source of life in a very literal sense. 

His light provides us with light – Psalm 119:105. So, the psalmist is not only alive but understand the direction of his way by the light of God, the light of Christ (John 8:12).

B’. v. 10-11, a plea that the steadfast love will protect from the temptation. The Temptations are going to come, and we ask that He keep us protected from the impact of the evil one (Matthew 6:13 – leads to Romans 12:21).

A’. v. 12, the ultimate fate of the evildoers is to fall, unable to rise (see Psalms 1:6 and 146:9).