Study

a Bible passage

Click a verse to see commentary
Select a resource above

Psalm 36

Human Wickedness and Divine Goodness

To the leader. Of David, the servant of the L ord.

1

Transgression speaks to the wicked

deep in their hearts;

there is no fear of God

before their eyes.

2

For they flatter themselves in their own eyes

that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

3

The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit;

they have ceased to act wisely and do good.

4

They plot mischief while on their beds;

they are set on a way that is not good;

they do not reject evil.

 

5

Your steadfast love, O L ord, extends to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

6

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,

your judgments are like the great deep;

you save humans and animals alike, O L ord.

 

7

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8

They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

9

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light we see light.

 

10

O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,

and your salvation to the upright of heart!

11

Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,

or the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12

There the evildoers lie prostrate;

they are thrust down, unable to rise.


5. O Jehovah! thy mercy is unto the heavens. Commentators think that David, after having described the great corruption and depravity which every where prevail in the world, takes occasion from thence to extol in rapturous praises the wonderful forbearance of God, in not ceasing to manifest his favor and good-will towards men, even though they are sunk in iniquity and crime. But, as I have already observed, I am of a somewhat different opinion. After having spoken of the very great depravity of men, the prophet, afraid lest he should become infected by it, or be carried away by the example of the wicked, as by a flood, quits the subject, and recovers himself by reflecting on a different theme. It usually happens, that in condemning the wicked, the contagion of their malice insinuates itself into our minds when we are not conscious of it; and there is scarcely one in a hundred who, after having complained of the malice of others, keeps himself in true godliness, pure and unpolluted. The meaning therefore is, Although we may see among men a sad and frightful confusion, which, like a great gulf, would swallow up the minds of the godly, David, nevertheless, maintains that the world is full of the goodness and righteousness of God, and that he governs heaven and earth on the strictest principles of equity. And certainly, whenever the corruption of the world affects our minds, and fills us with amazement, we must take care not to limit our views to the wickedness of men who overturn and confound all things; but in the midst of this strange confusion, it becomes us to elevate our thoughts in admiration and wonder, to the contemplation of the secret providence of God. David here enumerates four cardinal attributes of Deity, which, according to the figure of speech called synecdoche, include all the others, and by which he intimates, in short, that although carnal reason may suggest to us that the world moves at random, and is directed by chance, yet we ought to consider that the infinite power of God is always associated with perfect righteousness. In saying that the goodness of God is unto the heavens, David’s meaning is, that in its greatness it is as high as the heavens. In the same sense he adds, Thy truth is even unto the clouds The term truth in this place may be taken either for the faithfulness which God manifests in accomplishing his promises, or for the just and well regulated character of his government, in which his rectitude is seen to be pure and free from all deception. But there are many other similar passages of Scripture which constrain me to refer it to the promises of God, in the keeping and fulfilling of which he is ever faithful.


VIEWNAME is study