Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 36

Psalm 36 is a contrast of the sinner and God. The worst mistake we, as Christians, can make, is to think ourselves righteous. This is one of the things we hear from those who oppose our faith. They see us as hypocrites. We talk like we are little Christs, (some people suggest the Greek word means that, but many say that just isn’t true), but we usually live like the rest of the world. We are called to be holy, we are called to separate from the world, and yet we behave pretty much as they do. The opening words of Psalm 36 give us a look at what the wicked look like.

Psalm 36:1-4

Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.  For it flatters him in his own eyes Concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it.  The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.  He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil.

Ah, you say, I certainly do not look like that. And maybe not, but what does an honest assessment of yourself look like? Let’s compare ourselves to God. His holiness must be the only standard we should be seeking to attain.

Psalm 36:5-9
Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.  How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.  For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.

Does your lovingkindness extend to the heavens? How is your faithfulness? Does your righteousness look like the mountains of God? Are your judgments as deep as His? Not me. I fall way short in all of this. And according to the Bible; You do as well.

Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that, "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”

You see we cannot even understand our own heart. But God sees who we are.

Jeremiah 17:10
"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.

I am a blessed man. Despite my wicked heart, God has reached down, through Jesus, and given me a righteousness that is not my own. He has cloaked me in the blood of Christ and in Christ, God sees me as holy. Because of that, I can enter into the throne of grace, where I can, as David, pour out my prayers. So, I pray as David has in this psalm.

Psalm 36:10-12
O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.  Let not the foot of pride come upon me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.  There the doers of iniquity have fallen; They have been thrust down and cannot rise.

When Jesus comes back there will be judgment on all who do not have the holiness of Christ upon them. Until then we must live in a state of complete humility knowing we are sinners, saved only by the blood of Jesus Christ. That is the only difference between us and those David speaks of. The Book of Romans is a great place to start in self-examination. Romans 12:3 is a great reminder of what we must do each and every day, where we hear the commandment of Paul, who tells us, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”

The answer is Jesus. Let Him be your righteousness.