Bible Commentaries
Psalms 36

Introduction

Psalms 36:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. This Psalm describes the ungodly person in Psalms 36:1-4 and then the faithful follower in Psalms 36:7-9.

B. YHWH is described in Psalms 36:5-6 by four powerful descriptive nouns.

1. lovingkindness

2. faithfulness

3. righteousness

4. judgments/justice

They describe YHWH and His covenant. These are how He wants His world to function!

C. Psalms 36:10-12 offer concluding prayers for YHWH to help shield the godly from the influences of the godless. The downward pull of a

1. fallen world (cf. Ephesians 2:1)

2. fallen culture

3. fallen acquaintances (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:33)

4. fallen self (cf. Ephesians 2:3)

Psalms 36:5. Eph. 7:2; 4:27; 6:10-18 would also add Satan (i.e., see Special Topic: Satan) who is often so strong, consistent, and pervasive. YHWH's character, word, and intervention are our only hope.

D. Two unique word usages are found in this Psalm.

1. evil personified (i.e., “transgression speaks”), Psalms 36:1

2. “house” refers to all creation or eschatological setting. See note at Psalms 36:8-9.

Verses 1-4

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 36:1-4 1Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2For it flatters him in his own eyes Concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it. 3The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil.

Psalms 36:1-4 These verses describe the ungodly (BDB 957).

1. Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his (LXX, MT, “my”) heart (BDB 833 calls this “personified as evil spirit”). The verb of transgression/rebellion is used in Psalms 37:38; Psalms 51:13; Isaiah 43:27; Isaiah 59:13; Isaiah 66:24; Jeremiah 2:8, Jeremiah 2:29; Jeremiah 3:13; Jeremiah 33:8, where it refers to transgression/rebellion among the covenant people. The psalmist lives among a people of unclean lips (cf. Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah 6:9-10).

2. There is no fear (i.e., terror, BDB 808) of God before their eyes. Fear of YHWH is admonished in Psalms 34:9; Psalms 55:19d. This verse is the concluding text quoted in the list of OT texts which assert the universal sinfulness of all mankind in Romans 3:18.

3. Either “personified transgression” or the godless person himself lies (“smooth talk,” BDB 325, KB 322, Hiphil perfect) to himself about his own iniquity.

4. The words of his mouth (which reflects who he is) are

a. wickedness (BDB 19)

b. deceit (BDB 941)

5. He has ceased to

a. be wise (BDB 968, KB 1328, Hiphil infinitive construct)

b. do good (BDB 405, KB 408, Hiphil infinitive construct)

6. He plans wickedness upon his bed (all the verbs of Psalms 36:4 are imperfects, denoting ongoing action), cf. Proverbs 4:16; Micah 2:1.

7. He set himself on a path that is not good. Remember life is characterized as a path, road, way. Each of us must choose which path, cf. Deuteronomy 30:15, Deuteronomy 30:19; Matthew 7:13-14.

8. He does not despise evil.

Even covenant people are tested/tempted (i.e., personified rebellion) but they are still responsible for their choices and the consequences of those choices!

Verses 5-9

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 36:5-9 5Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O Lord, You preserve man and beast. 7How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. 8They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. 9For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Psalms 36:5-9 This strophe describes YHWH's character and actions toward His people. As the rebel chose and lived in light of his/her choices, so too, the faithful followers must continue to respond to YHWH's love.

1. YHWH is described as, Psalms 36:5-6

a. lovingkindness (BDB 338, i.e., covenant loyalty, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (HESED)

b. faithfulness (BDB 53, see SPECIAL TOPIC: Believe, Trust, Faith, and Faithfulness in the Old Testament)

c. righteousness (BDB 842, see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS)

d. judgments (BDB 1048, see SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGE, JUDGMENT, and JUSTICE)

These are four powerful, recurrent attributes of YHWH. They characterize His dealings with humans. In light of these attributes humans and all life on this planet is preserved (BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil imperfects). Elohim created and sustains this planet, its people, its animals, and its plant life (see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY).

2. Faithful followers

a. take refuge in the shadow of Your wings (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW AS METAPHOR FOR PROTECTION AND CARE)

b. drink their fill of the abundance of Your house (see Contextual Insights, D or note at Psalms 36:8)

c. have Your house as

(1) the fountain of life, cf. Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 2:13; Jeremiah 17:13

(2) light (i.e., truth, health, joy, cf. Psalms 18:28; Psalms 27:1)

Psalms 36:7 “O God! And the children of men” It is possible that “God” (Elohim) here should/could refer to “leaders,” because it seems to parallel “man and beasts” (i.e., a category of two) in Psalms 36:6c. If so, then the two categories of humans referred to must be

1. leaders (i.e., judges in Exodus 21:6; Psalms 82:6 or leaders in Psalms 29:1; Psalms 58:1)

2. those led

NEB, REB, TEV, and AB footnote have “Gods and men.”

Psalms 36:8 “Your house” In this context it does not refer to the temple but a recreated Eden (i.e., “delight,” BDB 726, Psalms 36:8b) or eschatological setting (i.e., new age, cf. Psalms 46:4; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; Revelation 22:1-2).

Verses 10-12

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 36:10-12 10O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11Let not the foot of pride come upon me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12There the doers of iniquity have fallen; They have been thrust down and cannot rise.

Psalms 36:10-12 This concluding strophe is a prayer by the psalmist to YHWH on behalf of the faithful followers (i.e., “to those who know You,” see SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW).

1. Continue BDB 604, KB 645, Qal imperative

a. in Your lovingkindness

b. in Your righteousness

2. Do not let

a. the foot of pride come upon me BDB 97, KB 112, Qal imperfect used in a jussive sense

b. the hand of the wicked drive me away BDB 626, KB 678, Hiphil imperfect used in a jussive sense

3. Let the wicked be

a. fallen BDB 656, KB 709, Qal perfect

b. thrust down BDB 190, KB 218, Qal perfect

c. unable to rise BDB 407, KB 410, Qal perfect (all three verbs may refer to death and descent into Sheol)

Note the consequences of faith (Psalms 36:7-8) and evil (Psalms 36:11-12). Choices have consequences!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Compare all the translations that you have and note the different ways they translate Psalms 36:1.

2. Express in your own words the essence of Psalms 36:1-4 in one declarative sentence.

3. What do the four significant terms in Psalms 36:5, Psalms 36:6 have to say about the concept of conditional and unconditional covenants in the OT?

4. Can the term Elohim in Psalms 36:7 refer to the judges or leaders of Israel as well as the God of Israel? Why?

5. Why does the term “in the shadow of Your wings” refer to God as a female? What is the implication of these types of statements?

6. Does it seem unspiritual to you that David prays for the destruction of his enemies?