The Book of Psalms
Psalm 36
Psalm XXXVI · Vol. II, p. 1008
1 The grievous state of the wicked. 5 The excellency of God's mercy. 10 David prayeth for favour to God's children.
To the chief musician, A psalm of David the servant of the LORD.
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my 1heart, athat there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For bhe flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found2 to be hateful.3
b De.29.19. Je.2.35. Is.47.7,8. Ps.10.11-13; 52.1-7.
2 Heb. to find his iniquity to hate.
3 'Yea, in his own eyes he flattereth himself, instead of finding out his iniquity to detest it.'—Boothroyd.
4 Hee deviseth mischief4 upon his bed; he setteth himself gin a way that is not good; hhe abhorreth not evil.
5 Thyi mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.5
i Ps.57.10; 108.4;103.11;89.1,2.
5 The suddenness of the transition from the delineation of the grossest form of human wickedness to the celebration of the infinite mercy, faithfulness, and purity of God, is striking and startling. The contrast is strong; but its very strength makes it all the more powerful to awaken and sanctify. Fear and gratitude are alike roused to action, and the thoughtful is constrained to contemplate the folly and danger of sin.—P.
6 Thyj righteousness is like the great mountains;6 thy kjudgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou lpreservest man and beast.
7 How nexcellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men oput their trust under the shadow of thy wings.7
8 Theyp shall be abundantly satisfied8 with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
10 O continue9 thy loving-kindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
9 Heb. draw out at length, Ps.103.17. Je.31.3. Is.51.6,8. 2 Ti.4.7,8.
11 Lets not the foot of pride come against me, and tlet not the hand of the wicked remove me.1
s Da.4.37. Eze.30.6. Ps.119.21,51,69,78,85,122.
t Ps.17.8-14;16.1.
1 Thus Christ, for his church's sake, prays for an unchanging priesthood.—C.
12 There2 are uthe workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
2 There. In what place? Even wheresoever the wicked plotted and warred against the Lord and his Christ, Ps.2.2,9,12.—C.
u Ps.7.15,16;9.15,16; 55.15,23; 56.7; 58.6-9; 59.12;64.7,8. 2 Th.1.8,9.
Notes
Ver. 1. The form of this sentence is involved. It is dramatic, and may be explained in this way:—The writer introduces himself as scrutinizing the character and conduct of the wicked. His heart pronounces judgment upon them; and the substance of his judgment is, that they are not influenced by the fear of God. Pleasure, passion, and worldly aggrandizement are the great mainsprings of their actions. P.
Ver. 4. The whole description well applies to Judas, into whom Satan entered, and taught to betray his Lord, Lu. 22. 3. C.
Ver. 6. Great mountains. Conspicuous from afar, elevated above the clouds, the battlements of kingdoms, the storehouses of inexhaustible wealth, the immovable monuments of almighty power. C.
Ver. 9. In thy light, &c. God dwells in light, 1 Ti. 6. 16. God is light, 1 Jn. 1. 5. In Christ was light, Jn. 1. 9. In Christ, therefore, God's light, the believer sees light—the light of doctrine in ignorance, 2 Pe. 1. 19, and of immortality in death, 2 Ti. 1. 10. C.
Reflections.—Living in open sin is a certain mark of an unregenerate heart. And how deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, are the hearts of men by nature! What self-flattery—what abominable thoughts and devices—what false and mischievous words—what horrid deeds proceed from them! Night and day they perpetrate crimes. And none are worse than apostate professors: their deliberate wickedness shows the power of the devil uncontrolled within them! And they who, when awake on their beds, have their thoughts unoccupied in God's words, will find the devil at hand to suggest evil to them. But how high—how fixed—how unsearchable are the excellencies of God! Unbounded is his mercy—unchangeable his veracity—conspicuous his justice—unsearchable his words—and awful his works! Benevolent and extensive is his providential care. Precious and engaging his love. And powerfully considerate and delightful are the provision, the comfort, the life, the light, the love, the righteousness, which he bestows upon all people. But inevitable is the ruin and intolerable the everlasting misery of all who reject them.