Midvash

Psalms 36

In your light we see light

in whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all.a 2In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. 3Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good.

4They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil. 5Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.b 6Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.

7How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.c 8You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights.d 9For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.e

10Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts. 11Don’t let the proud trample me or the wicked push me around. 12Look! Those who do evil have fallen! They are thrown down, never to rise again.

Commentary
Psalm 36 contrasts the dark reality of human wickedness with the radiant character of God's steadfast love. The psalm opens with a diagnosis of the wicked heart—one that has no fear of God and flatters itself in sin. Then, in a dramatic pivot, David celebrates God's covenant faithfu
Read full commentary

Bible Dictionary· Psalms 36(4)

FountainHouseLightShadow

References· Psalms 36

a
v.1 — There is no fear of God: Romans 3:18; Romans 3:18, Proverbs 16:6, Psalms 18:1, Matthew 12:33-34, Psalms 143:12, Psalms 112:1, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Psalms 90:1, Titus 1:1, Matthew 7:16-20
b
v.5 — Psalms 100:5, Psalms 108:4, Psalms 103:11, Psalms 57:10, Psalms 89:2, Hebrews 6:18-20, Matthew 24:35, Psalms 92:2, Isaiah 55:7-9, Psalms 52:1
c
v.7 — Psalms 86:5, 1 John 3:1, Ruth 2:12, Psalms 91:4, 1 John 4:9-10, Psalms 139:17, Psalms 17:8, Psalms 31:19, Exodus 34:6, Psalms 86:15
d
v.8 — Psalms 16:11, Psalms 65:4, Isaiah 58:11, Jeremiah 31:12-14, Psalms 63:5, Isaiah 25:6, Matthew 5:6, Isaiah 48:21, Psalms 46:4, Job 20:17
e
v.9 — John 8:12, John 4:14, 1 John 1:7, John 4:10, John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Isaiah 60:19, James 1:17, Jeremiah 2:13

New Living Translation (NLT) © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Midvash cross references + OpenBible.info data (CC BY 4.0).

Copied!
Aa

Guided study

Study this chapter

A guided session — observe, interpret, apply — that ends in your own note.