Psalms 36

1 (35-1) <Unto the end, for the servant of God, David himself.> (35-2) The unjust hath said within himself, that he would sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 (35-3) For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may be found unto hatred.

3 (35-4) The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile: he would not understand that he might do well.

4 (35-5) He hath devised iniquity on his bed, he hath set himself on every way that is not good: but evil he hath not hated.

5 (35-6) O Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth even to the clouds.

6 (35-7) Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord:

7 (35-8) O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God! But the children of men shall put their trust under the covert of thy wings.

8 (35-9) They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure.

9 (35-10) For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall see light.

10 (35-11) Extend thy mercy to them that know thee, and thy justice to them that are right in heart.

11 (35-12) Let not the foot of pride come to me, and let not the hand of the sinner move me.

12 (35-13) There the workers of iniquity are fallen, they are cast out, and could not stand.

Psalms 36 Commentary

Chapter 36

The bad state of the wicked. (1-4) The goodness of God. (5-12)

Verses 1-4 From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with hatred of sin, and seek satisfaction in God's loving-kindness. Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of wicked men comes. It takes rise from contempt of God, and the want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they put upon their own souls. Let us daily beg of God to preserve us from self-flattery. Sin is very hurtful to the sinner himself, and therefore ought to be hateful; but it is not so. It is no marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all mankind; to whom will they be true, who are false to their own souls? It is bad to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do it with plot and management. If we willingly banish holy meditations in our solitary hours, Satan will soon occupy our minds with sinful imaginations. Hardened sinners stand to what they have done, as though they could justify it before God himself.

Verses 5-12 Men may shut up their compassion, yet, with God we shall find mercy. This is great comfort to all believers, plainly to be seen, and not to be taken away. God does all wisely and well; but what he does we know not now, it is time enough to know hereafter. God's loving-kindness is precious to the saints. They put themselves under his protection, and then are safe and easy. Gracious souls, though still desiring more of God, never desire more than God. The gifts of Providence so far satisfy them, that they are content with such things as they have. The benefit of holy ordinances is sweet to a sanctified soul, and strengthening to the spiritual and Divine life. But full satisfaction is reserved for the future state. Their joys shall be constant. God not only works in them a gracious desire for these pleasures, but by his Spirit fills their souls with joy and peace in believing. He quickens whom he will; and whoever will, may come, and take from him of the waters of life freely. May we know, and love, and uprightly serve the Lord; then no proud enemy, on earth or from hell, shall separate us from his love. Faith calleth things that are not, as though they were. It carries us forward to the end of time; it shows us the Lord, on his throne of judgment; the empire of sin fallen to rise no more.

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, [a Psalm] of David, the servant of the Lord. This title, which the psalmist takes to himself, regards him not only as a creature, every man being the servant of the Lord as such, of right, though not in fact; but as a king, he being a minister of God for good to good men, and for evil to evil men; and also may respect him as a renewed man; and it is here used in opposition to and distinction from the wicked, who are the servants of sin and Satan, of whom he speaks in this psalm. The Syriac and Arabic versions in their titles suggest that this psalm was written when David was persecuted by Saul, and which is the sense of some interpreters; but R. Obadiah thinks Ahithophel is designed by the wicked man in it; and so it was penned on account of Absalom's rebellion.