For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 36

1 I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
    before their eyes.

2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
    they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
    they commit themselves to a sinful course
    and do not reject what is wrong.

5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast in the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

10 Continue your love to those who know you,
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen –
    thrown down, not able to rise!

A. Find Out:

1. Of what is David speaking first of all? v.1a
2. In what ways is this expressed? v.1b-4
3. What characteristics of the Lord are then described? v.5-7
4. What does David say about each of them? v.5-7
5. Who are blessed in what way? v.7b,8
6. How is God described? v.9

B. Think:

1. How are the descriptions of the wicked seen in today’s world?
2. How does David contrast the Lord with the wicked?
3. What is his prayer?

C. Comment:

  Arising within David’s consciousness is an awareness of the evil of men. By definition, an evil man is wicked and sinful. David enlarges on this sinfulness.

First of all there is no fear or respect of God in this person (v.1). Godlessness always comes before wickedness (Rom 1:18 ), a rejection of God or total indifference to Him. This is pure folly. This person flatters himself (v.2), is proud and simply thinks well of himself so he cannot see the wrong in himself. His words are wrong (v.3) and even his thoughts when he is alone are wrong (v.4), so he sets himself to do wrong.

Then, as if by comparison, David describes what he knows of the Lord. He speaks of the Lord’s love, His faithfulness (v.5), His righteousness, His justice (v.6). Each of these things is unlimited. They are not just a small thing in God but they are enormous and unlimited. God’s love will be found wherever we can go, and similarly we can utterly rely upon Him wherever we go. His goodness (righteousness) and His ability to always do the right thing in response to wrong situations (justice) are always there in enormous evidence. The person who turns to the Lord for help will always have abundance (meditate on v.8). With God there is always abundance of Life!

D. Application:

1. Godlessness precedes wrong doing.
2. God is full of blessing for those who turn to Him.