Psalm 36

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all. In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are. Everything they say is crooked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good. They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots. Their actions are never good. They make no attempt to turn from evil. (vv 1-4 NLT)

The psalmist begins his meditations in amazement at the wicked's absorption with rebellion, self-deceit and hatred. By turning their backs on God, they are open to the manipulation of the evil one, and in succumbing to sin, become blind to their own foolish ways. The heart that does not fear God will be ruled by sin.

Then, in sudden contrast, David is overcome with an awareness of God's steadfast love, righteousness and faithfulness. As he takes his eyes off the wicked, the psalmist's tone changes, and we sense a lightening of his heart.

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast (vv 5-6 NIV).

After spending considerable time with God, Moses became hungry for the glory, rather than the acts and miracles he'd witnessed in the deliverance of Israel. When he asked God to reveal Himself, the following happened:

Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. (Exodus 34:6NLT)

David, in penning this psalm, was aware of these facets of God's nature, and has clearly chosen to focus on the unfailing love of God and His ability to preserve his creation (v 6).

You may feel like David at the beginning of this psalm, as you hear reports of murder, terrorism, corruption, sexual perversion and every form of wickedness imaginable from all over the world. For every solution tendered, evil seems to re-invent itself and appears to grow stronger. Such news can strike fear in the heart, and those who do not know the Lord will surely wonder where the world is going, and how it will all end.

Don't let your heart be troubled. Instead, look up to the heavens where the mercy and steadfast love of God reign supreme. In verse 7 we are told that we can find safety in the shadow of God's wings. Instead of fearful wickedness, a feast of abundance and life awaits those who take refuge in God. The light of God overcomes the darkness emanating from the wicked. Instead of being overwhelmed by what you hear on the news, become absorbed in God's Light, as described to us in John 8:12 (NLT):

Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Lord, in the darkness that surrounds us, You are Light. In the hatred we see around us, You are Love. Surrounded by wickedness and deceit, we recognise Your steadfast love and tender mercies. May our hearts be filled with your love, that we might be beacons of your light and bring hope to the world.

Psalm 36 Full Reading

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.