Day 73

Psalm 36: Read here – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2036&version=NASB

Only Ps.18 & 36 uses the title ‘The Servant of the LORD. Ps.18 comes from David’s old age and Ps.36 from a younger David. From youth to old age, he was David, ‘the servant of the LORD.’ 

This psalm is in three sections: The Sinner v1-4, The Saviour v5-9, and The Saint v10-12. 

The first section is God’s revelation of man to himself and was used by Paul in Rom.1:18. The description of the evil man is graphic. He has by some means persuaded himself that God does not interfere with men. Consequently, he has no fear of God, enthrones himself at the centre of his own being, and goes in the way of wickedness in thought and in action. 

The second section talks about God’s revelation of Himself to man. From the narrowness of iniquity, we are taken to the spaciousness of the almighty. Section 3 shows us man’s dedication of himself to God. 

Vs 5-9 contain one of the most magnificent passages anywhere about the gracious God and saviour who is consistent and faithful to His covenant. 

That ‘chesed’ (lovingkindness) finds itself at the head of the passage is significant because the following adjectives are but aspects of that wonderful covenant word: faithfulness, righteousness and judgment. 

One can easily imagine that the psalm was written on some natural height from which the composer looked out on a far-stretching scene in which he saw symbols of truth concerning his God. Note the sweep of vision: The heavens, the skies, and clouds, the great mountains, the boundless deep, the river, and overall, the light. David can only describe these attributes of God with the biggest things he can think of. 

Like the ethereal blue, lovingkindness encompasses the whole earth, smiling upon universal nature, acting as a canopy for all the creatures of the earth, surmounting the loftiest peaks of human provocations, and rising high above the mists of mortal transgression. 

The goodness of God is shown in the way He cares for His creatures v6. The ecosystem of His creation has enough to provide for the needs of those He has created, both man and beast.