Psalm 36 — Walking with God’s Ways
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart,
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes,
That his iniquity shall not be found out and be hated.
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit:
He hath left off to be wise and to do good.
4 He deviseth iniquity upon his bed;
He setteth himself in a way that is not good;
He abhorreth not evil.
5 Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is in the heavens;
Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the skies.
6 Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Thy judgements are a great deep:
O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How precious is thy lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house;
And thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life:
In thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee;
And thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me,
And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen:
They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise.
The ways of the wicked, in contrast with the ways of God, are closed off and unto their own selves. Self focused and self serving, all their thoughts and ideas have only their single source: pride & selfishness. They have no chance for growth and change in wisdom and understanding as they stagnate in an evil they choose not to despise.
In contrast with their ways, David reveals that the ways of God are open. As the heavens, the skies and the mountains, so is the expansiveness of God in lovingkindness, faithfulness and righteousness. While the self centered close off all others, God opens himself up to welcome and help all. He is able to fill us abundantly with food & drink, giving access to the fountain and the light of life.
When we choose the way of the Lord, we choose his expansive lovingkindness and help. When we submit our ways to his ways, he protects us from the hands and feet of the wicked. While the workers of iniquity fall by their own devices, we are sustained and given strength to stand in and by the Lord.