Psalm 36:5

5 Thy steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 36:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 36:5

Thy mercy, O Lord, [is] in the heavens
Meaning either the general mercy of God the earth is full of, and extends to all creatures; to which it is owing that wicked men before described are not consumed; and which reaches "up to the heavens" ^F4, as the words are by some rendered, as their sins do; see ( Psalms 57:10 ) ; or the special mercy of God, and regards not the objects of it, creatures in heaven; for there at, none there proper objects of mercy; but the seat of it, the heart of God, who is in heaven; or the repository of it, the covenant of grace, which is full of the sure mercies of David; and of mercy there was a most glaring instance, when the son of God was sent down from heaven, to obtain salvation for sinful men; or it may denote the original of it, the heaven, being, as Aben Ezra observes some Jewish interpreters say, the fountain of mercy, and the spring of truth; or the greatness and abundance of it, it being as high as heaven, yea, above it; see ( Psalms 103:11 ) ( 108:4 ) ;

[and] thy faithfulness [reacheth] unto the clouds;
which lies in the execution of his purposes, whose counsels of old were faithfulness and truth; and in keeping his covenant and promises; he never changes his mind, nor forgets his word; he is a God of truth, and cannot lie; he knows the end from the beginning; no unforeseen event can turn up to hinder the performance of what he has purposed and promised, and he is able to perform; nor does ever any of the good things he has spoken of fail: though his faithfulness sometimes seems to be not only to the clouds, but in them, and out of sight; providences seem to clash with promises, which make unbelief to say, doth his promise fail for evermore? yet, though we believe not, he abides faithful, ( Psalms 77:8 ) ( 2 Timothy 2:13 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Mymvhb) "usque ad coelos", Pagninus, Musculus, Muis, Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Kimchi & Noldius, p. 164. No. 744. & Ainsworth.

Psalm 36:5 In-Context

3 The words of his mouth are mischief and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

4 He plots mischief while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he spurns not evil.

5 Thy steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, thy faithfulness to the clouds.

6 Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God, thy judgments are like the great deep; man and beast thou savest, O LORD.

7 How precious is thy steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of thy wings.