Psalm 36

September 15, 2015

Prayer against the enemies (Ps 36:10-36:12)

“O continue your steadfast love

To those who know you!

Let your salvation come to the upright of heart!

Do not let the foot of the arrogant thread on me!

Do not let the hand of the wicked drive me away!

Let these evildoers lie prostrate!

Let them be thrust down!

Let them be unable to rise!”

This short psalm ends with David wanting the continual steadfast love of Yahweh to come on those who knew and loved Yahweh. He wanted salvation for the upright of heart. He did not want the hands and feet of the arrogant and the wicked to thread on him or drive him away. However, he wanted the evildoers to lie prostrate, to be thrust down so that they would not be able to rise up again. Thus this psalm ends with a vindictive message.

 

September 15, 2015

Yahweh is the fountain of life (Ps 36:7-36:9)

“All people may take refuge

In the shadow of your wings.

They feast

On the abundance of your house.

You give them drink

From the river of your delights.

With you is the fountain of life.

In your light,

We see light.”

Everyone can take refuge in the shadows under the wings of Yahweh. They can feast from the abundance of his house. They get to drink from the delightful rivers. Yahweh is the foundation of life. Without him there would be no light. Actually through this light, we can see through his light.

September 15, 2015

The steadfast love of Yahweh (Ps 36:5-36:7)

“Your steadfast love!

Yahweh!

Extends to the heavens!

Your faithfulness extends to the clouds!

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains!

Your judgments are like the great deep!

You save humans and animals alike!

Yahweh!

How precious is your steadfast love!

O God!”

Here is a beautiful expression of the steadfast love of Yahweh that extends to the heavens and the clouds. His righteousness is like the highest mountain, while his judgments are like the deepest part of the sea. Yahweh saves humans and animals because of his steadfast love. Yahweh is the great God. The idea of the precious steadfast love of God is a common theme of these psalms.

September 15, 2015

Description of the wicked (Ps 36:1-36:4)

“To the choirmaster leader, a psalm of David, the servant of Yahweh

Transgression speaks to the wicked.

Deep in their hearts

There is no fear of God.

Before their eyes,

They flatter themselves in their own eyes.

They believe that their iniquity cannot be found out.

Therefore it cannot be hated.

The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit.

They have ceased to act wisely.

They have ceased to do good.

They plot mischief while on their beds.

They are set on a way that is not good.

They do not reject evil.”

In this Psalm 36, the title indicates that there was a choir leader. This psalm of David, called him the servant of Yahweh. There is a description of the wicked. Most of all they do not fear God. They are flatterers, mischievous, and deceitful. They think that no one knows what they are doing. They were always plotting mischief, even while in bed. Therefore they were not good and wise, but rather evil in their ways. They are on an evil path, not a good path.