In your light we see light. Let not the foot of pride come upon me, Roger Steer aptly subtitled his biography of Muller [Harold Shaw Publishers, 1975], delighted in God! Muller was a man who found joy in God. A video of his original remarks may be viewed here. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. (1.) Psalm 36:6 Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (Heb. Why does He allow another Herod to execute James, while God delivers Peter from the same fate? Charles Simeon has no less than seven sermons on different verses in this psalm, so there is much here that I cannot cover in depth. The psalmist evidently sees in the fact here stated an illustration of what he had just said about the "greatness" of God in His providential agency and his general government. NIV Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. They relish it; they taste a transcendent sweetness in it; they admire God's beauty and benignity above any thing in this world, nothing so amiable, so desirable. That is, sin speaks to and entices them in their hearts. When Paul considered Gods impressive judgments, he exclaimed (Rom. Psalm 92:5 O LORD, how great are thy works! The Hebrew word that the NASB translates lovingkindness, is hesed. The blessing he begs for them is God's loving-kindness (that is, the tokens of his favour towards them) and his righteousness (that is, the workings of his grace in them); or his loving-kindness and righteousness are his goodness according to promise; they are mercy and truth. Aliens in the Bible: What Does the Bible say about Aliens and UFO's? Then, without any transition, as if this contemplation of how sin flatters and deceives is too horrific, David abruptly shifts focus: From the depths of depravity, David leaps to the heights of God and His abundant blessings towards those who seek Him. (Psalm 36:6) This is a superlative expression; the Psalmist is saying that God couldn't be any more righteous than He already is. When I read the holy standards of Gods Word, do I apply them to my own heart, or do I just skim over them or apply them to others? Rather, the Father revealed it to him. What Does Colossians 2:6-7 Teach Us about Our Faith Walk? The transcendent perfections of the divine nature. As John Piper points out, it is your duty to delight in Him (The Dangerous Duty of Delight [Multnomah Publishers]). Psalm 36:9 Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (Heb. Whenever you see the word righteousness in Scripture, you need to stop and ask yourself: is this a reference to the righteousness of God or the righteousness of man? They view God as loving, but not as just and righteous. According to the Book of Genesis, God originally designed all the animal kingdom (including dogs) to be intimately connected with mankind. [He is referring to those living in a Christian country or raised in a Christian home, who think that they are thus right before God.] NIV Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong. (cf. NASB He plans wickedness on his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not reject evil. So it mixes metaphors, but communicates having all of something delightful that you want or need. Did Lolo Wood Get Surgery? Proud member In heaven they shall be for ever drinking of those pleasures that are at God's right hand, satiated with a fulness of joy,Psalms 16:11. Psalm 139:17) is Thy mercy, Elohim! Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. We know that he does all wisely and well; but what he does we know not now; it will be time enough to know hereafter. 2. Why are so many people who were raised in church turned off towards God? Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. It refers to any divine adjudication as to what is right, whether expressed by declaration or by act, and would include his adjudications in favor of that which is right as well as those against that which is wrong. 31:30 - Stop Talking So Fancy About Faith 34:05 - I Don't Know . To the chief musician, for use in the liturgical services of the Temple, a psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who her. by R. Laird Harris, Gleason Archer, and Bruce Waltke [Moody Press], 2:752). What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. [3.] They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures ( Psalms 36:1-8 ). He here acknowledges. Let us not wonder that God gives food to bad men, for he feeds the brute-creatures; and let us not fear but that he will provide well for good men; he that feeds the young lions will not starve his own children. Have you cried out to Jesus Christ for life and light? All the strength and comfort of a sanctified soul, all its gracious principles, powers, and performances, are from God. Adam Clarke writes (Clarkes Commentary [Abingdon-Cokesbury Press], 3:335), No man can illumine his own soul; all understanding must come from above. Spiritually, we are all like the man born blind (John 9). Some sinners flatter themselves, that they are already converted [when they are not]. [Note: Dahood, 1:218.]. What Does the Bible Say About Manifestation. Man and beast. Psalm 36-1 The transgression of the wicked says to me: There is no fear of God before their eyes. It is as fixed as the everlasting hills. Transgression speaks within the heart, and the words of the wicked mans mouth reflect his character; they are wickedness and deceit. AMP Those that are not upright with God do not know him as they should. (KJV) This verse describes a unique aspect to the creation of humans that is different from all the other creatures in the animal kingdom. In our natural state, we cant see the beauty and glory of God and His many delights, because Satan has blinded our minds (2 Cor. God will surely judge the wicked or else the Bible is false! Take heed! The "judgment" of God in any matter may be expressed either by a declaration or by his acts. Psalm 147:9 He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. of Psalm 36-3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and fraud; he has ceased to be sensible and to do good. Observe. So they want to see the righteous fall so that they can justify their own sin. We dont know what the circumstances were that prompted David to write this psalm. Let not the foot of pride come upon me, and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. 3. (1.) He is "the fountain of life" (Jeremiah 2:13); all life flows forth from Him, who is the absolutely existing and happy One. Then, in verses 5-9, we find the underlying theme of the entire Psalm: Lord, I know Youll take care of me and protect me. There is no anticipation of Gods coming judgment because this voice deludes and flatters him. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. The deceitfulness of sin and the delightfulness of God should cause us to seek Him for a continuing experience of His love. Then he abruptly turns his focus on the delightfulness of God and the blessings that He bestows on His people (36:5-9). Psalm 36:5-6. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise and to do good. Some make the advantages under which they live an occasion of self-flattery. The majesty of the hills has often suggested the supremacy of right over wrong, Thou hast a voice, great mountain, to repeal. All we can say is, it was His sovereign purpose. One translation of this verse says, You care for people and animals alike, O Lord, (Psalm 36:6, NLT). The descriptions of the wicked are helpful and healthy for us because the patterns of the wicked are shot right through us. ", This primarily wisdom psalm, with elements of individual lament and praise, contains an oracle that David received from the Lord concerning the wicked. In other words, do not let the hand of the wicked drive me away in battle from whatever is rightfully mine as your covenant child. Thy judgments - The acts and records which are expressive of thy judgment in regard to what is right and best; that judgment as it is expressed in thy law, and in thy dealings with mankind. They are scrawny and ugly and spend all their time with their mouths open, squawking for food. And yet the stork parents show loyal love for their young, providing for all their needs. 257, 315). Why is fearing God. My soul She is also very troubled, and you, Jehovah, how long?" We note that David speaks of rebuke and punishment. He carried them on His pinions. Gods judgments in this context refer to His providential governance of His creation. 10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. And who can comprehend the extent of His law, and the wonderfulness of His Providence, in thus watching over and providing for the multitudes of animated beings that swarm in the waters, in the air, and on the earth? The psalmist evidently sees in the fact here stated an illustration of what he had just said about the greatness of God in His providential agency and his general government. Rather, he is deliberately planning it. The river of your delights is probably an allusion to the four rivers at the Garden of Eden: the Tigris, Euphrates, Gihon, and the Pishon in the land of Havila. Doth God take care of cattle? It meant life and refreshment. How bad soever the world is, let us never think the worse of God nor of his government; but, from the abundance of wickedness that is among men, let us take occasion, instead of reflecting upon God's purity, as if he countenanced sin, to admire his patience, that he bears so much with those that so impudently provoke him, nay, and causes his sun to shine and his rain to fall upon them. is in the heavens. As the 1989 animated film suggests, do All Dogs Go to Heaven when they die because they are inherently good and loyal? You, LORD, preserve both people and animals. Have mercy on me, O Jehovah, for I am sick; Heal me, O Jehovah, for my bones are shaking. It refers to any divine adjudication as to what is right, whether expressed by declaration or by act, and would include his adjudications in favor of that which is right as well as those against that which is wrong. the uplifted strength of the hills became an emblem of His eternal truth; the depth and expanse of the infinite sea of His outspread goodness and inexhaustible justice. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? 15:29 - Let's Just Be Real 17:28 - He Heard Me! Jonathan Edwards has an insightful sermon on verse 2 in which he spells out eight ways that sinners flatter themselves (Self-Flatteries, in The Works of Jonathan Edwards [Banner of Truth], 2:218-219): 1. We have here David's prayers, intercessions, and holy triumphs, grounded upon these meditations. On earth we meet with little content and a great deal of disquiet and disappointment; but in the heavens, where the mercy of God reigns in perfection and to eternity, there is all satisfaction; there therefore, if we would be easy, let us have our conversation, and there let us long to be. The way of wisdom is constantly encouraged throughout Scripture. Also, this isnt just outward behavior, but uprightness of heart. Psalms 36:6 - Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible THE CURSE OF ESTRANGEMENT FROM GOD AND THE BLESSING OF FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. (1 Corinthians 8:2-3). Compare Job 11:7-9; Isaiah 55:8-9. He always wills what is right and does what is right. Butterfly Meaning In the Bible: What Does The Bible Say About Butterflies? So He will be lenient on judgment day. There is enough for all, enough for each; see Psalms 46:4. David shows how enveloped in deceit the sinner really is. Or, it may mean that sin flatters the sinner so that he cannot see his own sin or hate it for how evil it is. The pleasures of sense are putrid puddle-water; those of faith are pure and pleasant, clear as crystal,Revelation 22:1. Lost in this depth, which is so worthy of adoration, the Psalmist exclaims: How precious (cf. [2.] But the communications of divine favour and grace will satisfy, but never surfeit. You are the covenant God. See Isaiah 55:8; Isaiah 55:9; Hosea 11:9. Psalms 36:6 in Other Translations KJV 6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast. Read full chapter Psalm 35 Psalm 37 i.e., how valuable beyond all treasures, and how precious to him who knows how to prize it! In contrast to human wickedness we hear of the LORD's amazing grace ("steadfast love") and faithfulness. He who has clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-4). (2.) So David begins by showing how sin deceives the sinner by flattering him so that he plans and pursues it, rather than hating it. (Gen. 2:11). Recall what the Psalmist said in Psalm 24: Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? [Note: Armerding, p. This, as the four arms of the river of Paradise had one common source (Genesis 2:10), has its spring in God, yea, God is the fountain itself. David is crying out to confess His sin and ask the Lord to extend His grace. Though God suffers wicked people to do a great deal of mischief, yet he is and will be faithful to his threatenings against sin, and there will come a day when he will reckon with them; he is faithful also to his covenant with his people, which cannot be broken, nor one jot or tittle of the promises of it defeated by all the malice of earth and hell. If God created so many amazingly wonderful animals in Eden, then we can anticipate even greater creatures in Heaven. David is so confident of Gods righteousness and justice that he sees this yet-future event as if it has already happened. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are. In this world we see God, and enjoy him by creatures and means; but in heaven God himself shall be with us (Revelation 21:3) and we shall see and enjoy him immediately. In God all-sufficient they shall have enough, all that which an enlightened enlarged soul can desire or receive. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2009, All Rights Reserved. I am, I think, a rather good one. David was also a man who was delighted in God. What should he do. They do not understand Gods absolute holiness. 5. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. We will follow Davids three divisions: Is David here describing only what may be called the abandoned despisers of God (John Calvin, Calvins Commentaries [Baker], on Ps. David, having looked round with grief upon the wickedness of the wicked, here looks up with comfort upon the goodness of God, a subject as delightful as the former was distasteful and very proper to be set in the balance against it. We trust You to protect us. The idea here is, that as the mountains are the most stable of all the objects with which we are acquainted, so it is with the justice of God. Second, sin flatters the sinner into thinking that he isnt a really bad sinner, and so he does not hate his sin. And so we must continue to ask God to give us His righteousness. ESV 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD. But the full, the abundant satisfaction is reserved for the future state, the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ], "This is a psalm of powerful contrasts, a glimpse of human wickedness at its most malevolent, and divine goodness in its many-sided fullness. All men as fallen have these characteristics, latent or developed.. 8. One of the mountains--each a mighty voice. Gods faithfulness means that He always keeps His promises. Blessing awaits those who trust in his faithful love; devastating ruin, those who persist in their wickedness (10-12). However, if God loves us as much as Psalm 36:6 claims, then who is to say that He may not graciously reunite us with the dogs that we have loved here on earth. thou preservest man and beast, the meaning is to this effect, that since God vouchsafes to extend his providential care even to the irrational creation, much more does he provide for the wants of men. When David adds that God preserves man and beast, the meaning is that since he takes care of irrational animals, surely He will care for our needs (Calvin, p. 10). However, that does not mean that they will not be there. He will. Even though we who have come to know God through Jesus Christ have experienced His grace and love, we need a continuing, steady flow of it. Its a powerful Psalm. Like the movie mentioned earlier, do all dogs go to Heaven when they die? With you is the fountain of life; We will not be completely like Jesus until the moment that we see Him face to face (1 John 3:2). To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. It may mean that sinners flatter themselves into thinking that their sin is not so bad, even though others grow to hate them for it. Are you delighted in God and His abundant love? keharerey El, like the mountains of God; exceeding high mountains; what, in the present language of geology, would be called primitive mountains, those that were formed at the beginning; and are not the effects of earthquakes or inundations, as secondary and alluvial mountains are supposed to be. That is a different question, and we must return to Genesis for the answer. When people habitually do what they know is wrong, the principle of lawlessness takes control of their lives. Let it be drawn out to a length equal to the line of eternity itself. 7. The calm of the infinite sea has often soothed agitated souls. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Instead of pushing God out of his worldview, the psalmist made Him the center of it. The man replied, Well, I suppose I am, but Im not what you could call a bad sinner. Remember also the image Moses used in Deuteronomy 32:11: Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, The wicked man has ceased to be wise. The fountain of life suggests an unending supply. To be thus hidden in God is the most unspeakable blessedness, Psalm 36:9 : they satiate themselves, they drink full draughts of "the fatness of Thy house." [1.] One Hebrew scholar (J. Psalm 36:4 ESV He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
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