Psalm 36:1-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
36 Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;[a]
(B)there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 (C)For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are (D)trouble and deceit;
(E)he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He (F)plots (G)trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in (H)a way that is not good;
(I)he does not reject evil.
deep in his heart;[a]
(B)there is no fear of God
before his eyes.
2 (C)For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are (D)trouble and deceit;
(E)he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He (F)plots (G)trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in (H)a way that is not good;
(I)he does not reject evil.
5 Your
steadfast love, O Lord,
extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 (J)Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
(K)your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you (L)save, O Lord.
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 (J)Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
(K)your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you (L)save, O Lord.
7 (M)How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge (N)in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on (O)the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from (P)the river of(Q)your delights.
9 For with you is (R)the fountain of life;
(S)in your light do we see light.
The children of mankind take refuge (N)in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on (O)the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from (P)the river of(Q)your delights.
9 For with you is (R)the fountain of life;
(S)in your light do we see light.
10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who (T)know you,
and your righteousness to (U)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 (V)the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, (W)unable to rise.
and your righteousness to (U)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 (V)the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, (W)unable to rise.
When I read this passage I saw a
stark contrast from someone who did not fear God and someone who did. In the beginning of this scripture we see the
wicked man who has no fear of God. He
does not recognize that he is even a sinner, his transgression are deep in his
heart. At first it seemed a little odd
to me that it went from a wicked man to the steadfast of love of The Lord. As I continued through the scripture I
discovered that this passage, entitled by the ESV as, “How Precious is your
Steadfast Love” is more about fearing God.
At the beginning we have someone
who plots evil and does not fear God and on the other end of the passage we
have one who fears God who realizes that he too could fall into the pit of no
fear. He recognizes who God is and
recognizes his own vulnerability, a perfect example of one who fears God. Someone who recognizes not only that there is
a God but acknowledges His attributes as the provider of all things.
Often times in life we can get
caught up in the world around us and forget that there is a God who we should
fear yet who loves us more than words can express. David had seen this same mistake in King Saul
and he feared that his status in this world could place him in the pit like
King Saul if he did not recognize that God was in control. When we forget about God and try to do it all
on our own we end up being like the wicked who does not even recognize his transgressions.
It is quite a contrast between despair, where the evildoers are thrust down and
unable to rise and being able to take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings. I hope you are standing on the side of the
one who fears God where we can have comfort and a steadfast love.
As you seek Him, examine your lives
and see where you stand. Are you in the
bed of evil or are you able to see the light of our Lord as you travel down a
dark path called this world. Seek Him
and know that He is The Lord of Steadfast Love and is worthy to be feared.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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