Psalms 36

¹To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.

Psa 36:1-12. On servant of the Lord, see on Psa 18:1, title. The wickedness of man contrasted with the excellency of God’s perfections and dispensations; and the benefit of the latter sought, and the evils of the former deprecated. 1. The general sense of this difficult verse is, “that the wicked have no fear of God.” The first clause may be rendered, “Saith transgression in my heart, in respect to the wicked, there is no fear,” &c., that is, such is my reflection on men’s transgressions.

²For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

³The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

⁴He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

2-4. This reflection detailed. until his iniquity--literally, “for finding his iniquity for hating”; that is, he persuades himself God will not so find it--“for hating” involving the idea of punishing. Hence his words of iniquity and deceit, and his bold rejection of all right principles of conduct. The climax is that he deliberately adopts and patronizes evil. The negative forms affirm more emphatically their contraries.

⁵Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

⁶Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.

5-6. mercy ... and ... faithfulness--as mercy and truth (Psa 25:10).

⁷How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

7. shadow of thy wings--(Compare De 32:11; Psa 91:1).

⁸They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

8. fatness--richness. thy house--residence--for the privileges and blessings of communion with God (Psa 23:6; 27:4). river of thy pleasures--plenteous supply; may allude to Eden.

⁹For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

9. Light is an emblem of all blessings, given of God as a means to gain more.

¹⁰O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

10. that know thee--right knowledge of God is the source of right affections and conduct.

¹¹Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.

11. foot of ... hand ... wicked--all kinds of violent dealing.

¹²There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

12. There--in the acting of violence, they are overthrown. A signal defeat.