May 20, 2023 — Psalm 36 

“Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes. For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good. They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; 

they do not reject evil. Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart! Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the evildoers lie prostrate; they are thrust down, unable to rise.” Psalm 36 

“Take some time today to ponder the words of this Psalm. What does it mean to put your trust under the shadow of God’s wings? I like to think of a child who has no thought or worry about having a place to stay or food to eat. He looks to his parents to provide for him. Yet, how often we fret and stew and worry about having enough money.

Romans 8:15 says this, For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. It is not natural for the believer to fear. Instead he should cry out to God saying Papa, Father! Abba is a word of endearment a child might use when speaking to their father. We are adopted by Christ and as such are sons of God!” (devotional-reflections-from-the-bible.com; Psalm 36)

Verses 5-9 express the heart of the psalm and our grounds for hope. In contrast to doom and gloom, we hear of G-d’s amazing grace and faithfulness. In contrast to hoping for the demise of our enemies, we hear of G-d’s righteousness which is high as the mountains and deep as the seas. This amazing grace is not limited to those of the Church — the suggestion here is that this wideness to G-d’s love extends to all peoples. The old hymn has it just right: 

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea; 

there’s a kindness in God’s justice which is more than liberty. 

Believers like to place G-d’s love and mercy and grace in a box — thinking it extends to just certain people. The Psalmist believed that the love and grace of G-d extended to the entire world — whether people recognize that love and grace or not. It is there for all to take hold of — to embrace. As such, our prayer should be like the prayer you will soon pray: “let the virtuous know your goodness and sinners feel your mercy, so that together they may drink from your river of delight.” 

Prayer: Lord God, source of light and life, by the light of your truth let the virtuous know your goodness and sinners feel your mercy, so that together they may drink from your river of delight and rejoice now and ever in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen.