Passage: Psalm 36
The Big Idea
Psalm 36 sets two portraits side by side: the wicked heart that flatters itself, and the immeasurable, unfailing love of God. I read the wicked here as a picture of my own flesh, the old self in Adam. Against its darkness, God’s lovingkindness reaches to the heavens, and in His light we see light.
Reflections
There is no fear of God before his eyes (vv. 1-4). Read as a picture of my flesh, the old man and his remnants in my mind and emotions: it isn’t a mix of good and bad that can be reformed. It’s altogether corrupt. It flatters itself, always has a proud excuse, and can’t truly act wisely or do good, no matter how hard I try. It even lies awake plotting. The flesh is utterly lost.
Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens (v. 5). But then Your love is revealed to me: unfailing love, larger than my failures, reaching as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness rises above the clouds. Nothing is greater than Your grace toward me, not even my terrible flesh.
Your righteousness is like the great mountains (v. 6). Your righteousness isn’t shaken by my sin. Your grace is a foundation as solid as a mountain, Your judgments as deep as the ocean. Wherever You lift my dead self from, You can make me righteous by grace.
How precious is Your lovingkindness (v. 7). Your unfailing love is the most valuable treasure in the world, and there’s enough for every person to find shelter under the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house (v. 8). What’s amazing is that You share Your own delights with us. Anyone is invited to Your feast. You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light (v. 9). You’re the living water we need and the source of all life and light. We can only truly see when we’re with You.
Continue Your lovingkindness (vv. 10-11). My request is all about loving relationship. I need Your unfailing love, and I want to love You back. My flesh tries to bully me into its ways. I need Your love to remember that it doesn’t have my best interests at heart.
There the workers of iniquity have fallen (v. 12). The flesh is condemned; the cross proves it. It should stay in the grave, so I can live in the Spirit, in Your light and life, by grace.
Grace Takeaway
Your flesh will never be reformed, but you don’t need it to be. You’ve been given a fountain of life and a love higher than the heavens. Drink deeply, and in His light, see.
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