For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. Psalm 36:9
A Word about the Wicked
God gives David a word about the wicked. The righteous find relief in God’s unfailing love. The love protects the upright from hostility of evil man.
36:1-4 Oracle (36:1). Two Heb. Words are translated “oracle.” Ne’um means “an utterance” and affirms divine origin and authority for what is said. Massa’ is a message of judgment and usually appears where “oracle against” is found in English versions. Each of these words affirms that what is said originates in God and not the person who delivers the oracle. No fear of God: Understanding wickedness is a complete disregard for the reality of God in a person’s life and in the world. The word translated fear in this psalm is the same word used for “terror” at the final judgment. Flatters himself: With no sense of God or of final judgment, the wicked become egotistical. Words of his mouth: The theme of the wicked mouth is developed in Ps. 12. Ceased to be wise: The wisdom that the psalmist observes here is the practical outworking of the skill of sound living. Wickedness is crookedness and perversity. à Ugly
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.
36:5, 6 The contrast of these verses is extreme. Just as the revelation of depravity in vv. 1-4 is awful, the revelation of the Lord’s love is even more wonderful. Great mountains… great deep: The contrasts continue with David ranging from the highest mountains to the depths of the sea to describe the perfect character of God. The height of the great mountains can be compared to how great God’s righteousness is; the depth of the seas can be compared with how mysterious and inaccessible God’s true judgments are. The word deep is also used in Gen. 1:2.
5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
36:10-12 continue: On the basis of two of the revelations this psalm presents – the nature of the wicked and the nature of God’s loyal love – David prays that God’s loyal love will continue in the lives of His people. There the workers of iniquity have fallen: This is the third revelation in this psalm. David is given a glimpse of the horror of divine judgment on the wicked. In effect, the psalmist “sees” the judgment scene and shudders.
Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the workers of iniquity have fallen; They have been cast down and are not able to rise.
⇒ The contrast is striking. Even a child can see which one to choose between God and the wicked. The wicked must hide themselves so that people won’t know about their dark intentions toward them.
36 1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. 2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes, When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates. 3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good. 4 He devises wickedness on his bed; He sets himself in a way that is not good; He does not abhor evil.
5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast. 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. 8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. 9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. 10 Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the workers of iniquity have fallen; They have been cast down and are not able to rise.
