Monday, March 30, 2009

Psalm 36

Psalm 36 (NET) reads:

For the music director; written by the LORD's servant, David; an oracle.

An evil man is rebellious to the core.
He does not fear God,
2 for he is too proud
to recognize and give up his sin.

3 The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful;
he does not care about doing what is wise and right.

4 He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed;
he is committed to a sinful lifestyle;
he does not reject what is evil.

5 O LORD, your loyal love reaches to the sky;
your faithfulness to the clouds.

6 Your justice is like the highest mountains,
your fairness like the deepest sea;
you preserve mankind and the animal kingdom.

7 How precious is your loyal love, O God!
The human race finds shelter under your wings.

8 They are filled with food from your house,
and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.

9 For you are the one who gives
and sustains life.

10 Extend your loyal love to your faithful followers,
and vindicate the morally upright!

11 Do not let arrogant men overtake me,
or let evil men make me homeless!

12 I can see the evildoers! They have fallen!
They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!

Psalm 36 is an expression of confidence on the Lord's goodness and his ability to save. In contrast to the evil men who don't fear God (v. 1) and who invent ways of doing evil (v. 4), the Lord's love reaches to the sky (v. 5) and his justice is like a mountain (v. 6). God is the one who gives and preserves life (v. 9), and the human race can find shelter under His wings (v. 7). In His justice and loyalty, the Lord makes sure that wicked fall down and that they can't get up (v. 12).

I love vv. 8–9, "They are filled with food from your house, and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies. For you are the one who gives and sustains life." This is a good thought to remember.

"Father, I thank You for giving us life. The more I reflect on what it means to be 'alive,' the more I realize that to be alive in you is to be truly alive. I thank You for this psalm and the reminder to 'drink from the river of Your delicacies.' You are good to us, and our faith gives us something to celebrate. I pray that I would be more conscious of Your goodness and mercy. In Jesus name, Amen."

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