Psalms 36

Psalms 36:1-4

The occasion of this psalm appears to be the persecution of Saul, or Absalom. He may observe in it, 1. The forefathers of Sin, and how witherious it is, ver. 1—4. 2. The goodness of God, and how gracious he is, (1.) To all his creatures in general, ver. 5, 6. (2.) To his own people in particular, ver. 7—9. With which the psalmist is encouraged to pray for all saints, ver. 10. for himself to particular, and his own preservation, ver. 11. and to triumph in the certain fall of his enemies, ver. 12.

¶ To the chief musician, A psalm of David the servant of the Lord. 1. Rom. ii.

1. THE transgressions of the wicked faith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. 2. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. 3. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. 4. He deviseth a mischief upon his bed, he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

The highest title of the greatest monarch, or the wisest man, is to be called the servant of the Lord; in this David glooms, as his most distinguished honour. We find him here describing the wickedness of the wicked in its true colours, beginning with the root of bitterness within, and proceeding to the hateful fruits without.

1. The fear of God is banished from his eyes; this the transgressions of the wicked faith in my heart. David, by observing and marking his conduct, could not but be so convinced; for they who daringly and avowedly continue in the breach of God’s

laws, must need be destitute of his fear. Nate, It is no charity to deny the evidence of our senses, and to hope well of those who live in open sin.

2. He cries, Peace, peace to his soul; he flattereth himself in his own eyes, either that God regardeth it not, or will wink at what he calls the little escapes and infirmities of human nature; that his judgments will not be so severe as his word seems to say; that death is at a distance; that if he must repent, it is time enough yet; and as lead he shall do as well as thousands of others, whom God will not be so hard as, for a little sin here, to destroy eternity. By these and the like vain and infidel reasoning, his heart is hardened and secure, till his iniquity be found to be hateful. However men flatter themselves, the day is near when they must be undeceived, and a lie be found in their right hand; when God shall flash conviction on the self-deceiver, make his abhorrence of sin evident, and wrath to the uttermost be for ever the portion of the sinner’s cup.

3. Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh; corrupt and vile discourse defiles his lips, and, as he deceives himself, he heck to impose upon others by falsehood and hypocritical professions.

4. Though once he pretended regard to religion, he hath thrown off the truth, v. 3. and cast the reins upon the neck of folly and sin. Nate, None are so bad as those who once made a profession of godliness, if they depart from it.

5. His thoughts are ever set on mischief; on his bed he contrives it; and, when he arises, deliberately and resolutely pursues the schemes he hath formed to gratify his lulls, and injure his neighbour. Nate, (1.) Deliberate sin shews the devil’s power in the heart uncontrolled. (2.) They who, awake on their beds, have not their thoughts occupied in God’s word, will find a temper near, who will be busy to suggest to them evil.

6. He abhorreth not evil; nothing flucks with him; he hath silenced remarks, and takes pleasure in his abominations. To sin through temptation is sinful; but to take pleasure in sin, without fear or restraint, is exceeding sinful.

7. ¹ Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. 6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; ² thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preserveth man and beall. 7. How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men! put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. 8. ³ They shall be abundantly § satisfied with the fanness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. 9. For with thee is the fountain of life; ⁴ in thy light shall we see light. 10. O continue thy loving kindness 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 remove me. 12. There are the workers of iniquity fallen: ³ they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.

Psalms 36:5-12

The world affords a dark prospect to the child of God; he must look above him, not around him, if he would be comforted, and there a blessed scene presents itself in that glorious God, who is the joy of his people, and the portion of their inheritance.

1. He contemplates the bright perfections of the blessed God. Thy mercy is in the heavens, laid up for thy people, notwithstanding all the devices of the wicked against them; and as this is now their protection, shortly they will be brought to these heavens, eternally to enjoy it. To this it is owing also, that sinners are so long borne with; God is merciful, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come unto repentance. Thy faithfulness reacheth to the clouds: though men are false, and turn as the weather-cock, God is faithful, and never changes; and we may confidently trust him to fulfill all his promises; nor need think it long that sinners are born with; his threatenings will be accomplished in their season. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; either that righteousness which is the sinner’s justification, sure and everlasting; or those decisions against the impenitent, which are fixed and immovable. Thy judgments are a great deep, unfathomable often by the shallow line of human understanding, but always directed with infinite wisdom, and unimpeachable equity.

2. He meditates with delight on his dispensations of providence and grace towards his people, in all which his excellent loving kindness appears. In general, all creatures partake of his providential care: not only man, the Lord of the creation, but every beast, is fed by his bounty, and preserved by his providence; whilst with especial regard he manifestly his loving kindness to those who put their trust under the shadow of his wings, and fills their hearts with wonder, gratitude, and love. With liberal hand their wants are all supplied; with the fancils of his house they are satisfied: an all-sufficient God is an all-sufficient portion. Of earthly blessings they shall have enough, whilst

sweet content makes every meal a feast: with spiritual communications they shall be abundantly replenished; enjoying, in holy ordinances here below, divine fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ; and daily looking for the perfection of happiness in the full, uninterrupted, and eternal enjoyment of God’s precious and love in his temple of glory above. Even in this vale of tears, thou shalt mute them drink of the river of thy pleasures; those pure joys, that they who thrift after righteousness fast, when coming to Jesus to drink, they receive out of his fashers the abundance of pardon, grace, and cohabitations, the fortuities of those eternal pleasures that are at God’s right hand for evermore. For with thee is the well of life; thou art the living fountain; thy breath first animated the fiddish clay; but better far, quickened by thy free spirit, our soul, dead in trespass and sins, first felt new powers infused, and truly began to live. With living dreams fed from the sacred fountain, we are enabled daily to increase with the increase of God, and heartily we expect to drink at the fountain-head, and live eternally glorious and happy, like the author of our blessed immortality. In thy light shall we see light; without thee all is darkened; no fun to thine, no ere to see; but when thou deft arise, the Sun of righteousness, then shalt our fights eyes—hals meet the welcome day. Before us lies the path of life and glory, and distant realms of everlasting light terminate the prospect. Thither our willing feet are halting; and, yet a moment, shall arrive at that bright world, where, face to face, we shall behold the beatific and transforming vision, and in the contemplation of God’s transcendent excellences, be unutterably and eternally happy.

3. He prays for himself and others, that they may be continually blessed with the communications of divine grace: that those who know God, may follow on to know him more and more, v. 10. supported by his loving kindness, gaining a more distinct view of their divine justifying righteousness, and experiencing God’s constant protection from the power of evil. For himself he begs, that the fact of pride may not come against him, to transpire him down, or the hand of the wicked prevail, to destroy him; that neither his enemies without or without, spiritual or temporal, may remove him from his stedfastness. Note, Tho’ we have assured promises of being kept, yet must we be ineceliant in prayer for their accomplishment.

4. He forefires the ruin of the wicked near, certain, and fearful; psalms under the stroke of death’s resistless arm; oest down by the just sentence of the eternal judge, into the place of torment, and never able to rise from that bed of death, where the sufferings are as everlasting as they are intolerable. O gather not, Lord, my soul, with these sinners!