Bible Commentaries
Psalms 36

Verses 1-12

Psalms 36

THE FOUNDATION OF LIFE

Verses 1-12:

Verses 1-4 describe the devices, devilish resolves of the heart of the wicked who has never been saved or had experience of regeneration, the new birth, Jeremiah 17:9-10. Their transgressions fill David’s heart with pain. The continued deeds of the wicked are blasphemous actions that say, "I have no fear of God," tho fear of or reverence for Him is "the beginning of wisdom," Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 20:11; Matthew 7:16. It is the fool who has said in his heart "there is or exists no God," no living God, Psalms 14:1. The sinner as a servant or slave to his own sins and transgression, is to fear God and keep or guard His commandments, as set forth Genesis 20:11; Proverbs 8:13; Proverbs 16:6; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Revelation 3:18; Psalms 112:1.

Verse 2 asserts that the wicked God-defter "flatters himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful," until his own sins find him out, till pay day comes, till "chickens come home to roost," Genesis 44:16; Numbers 32:23, asserts "be sure your sins will find you out," or overtake you. Verse 3 declares that he has "deserted wisdom and doing good," while the folly of his mouth spewed out "iniquity and deceit," Isaiah 1:16; Jeremiah 4:22; Psalms 14:1-2.

Verse 4 adds that even upon his bed he meditated on and planned methods of doing wicked deeds in daylight hours, Micah 2:1. He set himself up in a way of life, deliberately, to go in the broad way that is not good, abhorring not evil, Isaiah 65:2-3; Romans 12:9.

Verses 5, 6 testify that the mercy of the Lord exists in the heavens and his faithfulness to His covenant pledges reaches to the clouds, so that he lives to reach out in mingled mercy and judgment to vindicate His righteousness in an holy manner among men, Psalms 57:10; Psalms 108:4-5.
Verse 6 adds that his righteousness is like the mighty mountains of God, and His judgment deeds are a great deep, in his judicial dealings in the moral government of the world, yet under His control, as described Job 11:7-8; Romans 11:33; Isaiah 28:29. His loving, compassionate care preserves men and beasts, so that He cares for all His creatures, especially His saints, Job 7:20; Philippians 1:6; Matthew 10:28-30; John 10:28-30.

Verse 7 extols the "loving kindness" of God that justifies their putting their absolute trust under the shadow-care of His wings, as a mother hen or eagle protects her young with the power of her whole life, Psalms 2:12; Deuteronomy 32:11; Matthew 23:37; Psalms 17:8. See also Ruth 2:12; Psalms 57:1; Luke 13:24.

Verse 8 affirms that those who put their trust in the Lord would be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of fullness of any need, from out of the house (store house) of the Lord, to drink of the river or fountain of the Lord’s pleasure, Job 20:17; Revelation 22:1; Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:33. Such shall never hunger or thirst, John 6:35; Psalms 65:4.

Verse 9 adds "for (because) with thee is (exists) the fountain of life; In thy light shall we see light; Blessed promise! Blessed assurance! How sublime! Isaiah 12:3; Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13; Jeremiah 18:14-15; Zechariah 13:1; Revelation 21:6.

Verse 10 appeals for the Lord to continue or draw out at length His loving kindness to all those who know Him, to those who were upright in heart, attitude or disposition, as expressed Psalms 85:5; 1 John 2:3; 1 John 4:8; Jeremiah 22:16; Titus 1:16. But tribulation was for his enemies, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6.

Verse 11 requests the Lord to prevent the foot of the proud, to tread him down, or come upon and entrap him suddenly, as one taken in a net, Psalms 35:7-8. He asks further that the Lord not permit the hand of the enemy to remove him from Israel, his land, Jeremiah 51:31-33. He too prayed not to be moved from his trust in the Lord, Psalms 11:1; Proverbs 3:3-5.

Verse 12 concludes that "there are the workers of iniquity fallen, cast down, and shall not be able to rise," from their judgment, as if it had already happened, Psalms 9:17; John 3:18. In spirit David envisioned his foes already vanquished, Psalms 18:38; Proverbs 24:16.