Episode Transcript
Psalm 36 (NIV)
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 In their own eyes they flatter themselves
too much to detect or hate their sin.
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
they fail to act wisely or do good.
4 Even on their beds they plot evil;
they commit themselves to a sinful course
and do not reject what is wrong.
5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!
CONSIDER THIS
Today’s post is from A Meditative Journey Through the Psalms by Timothy and Julie Tennent. He holds the Methodist Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School and served as president of Asbury Theological Seminary for fifteen years. She is a gifted musician and was one of the driving forces that helped bring to fruition the Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise. We will share some of their writing on the Psalms on Sundays.
We are accustomed to psalms exploring or reinforcing the worldview of righteousness. However, the Psalms not only set forth the way of righteousness; they often go to great lengths to help us understand the worldview of those who stand opposed to God’s rule and reign in the world. This psalm, as we have already seen in Psalms 2, 10, and 11, actually places us into the inner mind and thoughts of the wicked and unbelieving person. There are five key features of the unbelieving worldview that David explores. Remarkably, despite having been written almost three thousand years ago, they remain as relevant and insightful as they were when they were first penned.
The five attributes of the wicked set forth the broad contours of all those throughout every age who reject God’s will and purposes in the world. First, they have no respect for God or his Word. Verse 1 says, “There is no fear of God before his eyes.” Second, they believe that they are good and are not cognizant of the depth of our sinfulness before God. Verse 2 says, “For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.” Third, they have no regard for truth, and put their trust in their own words. Verse 3 says, “The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful.” Fourth, the wicked are convinced that their plans, not God’s plan, will succeed. Verse 4 says, “Even on his bed he plots evil; he commits himself to a sinful course.” Finally, they actually admire evil rather than despise it. Evil is called good and good is called evil. Verse 4 goes on to say that the wicked “commits himself to a sinful course and does not reject what is wrong.” These are the broad contours of the worldview of the wicked. We should remember these attributes and be ready to identify them when we encounter them. This is the necessary life of those who occupy the disputed ground between a world of evil and the persistent plans of God for his people.
In contrast to the wicked, we have entered into a covenant with God (v. 5). We live under his righteousness and judgments (v. 6a). We affirm that he is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe (vv. 6b–7) and that he provides for all of our needs (v. 8). Finally, we live and walk in the light of the revelation of God (v. 9). In this day when the ways of righteousness and the ways of wickedness seem so blurred, it is helpful to be reminded anew, through this psalm, of the dramatic separation that exists between the two ways (see Matt. 7:13–14). Truly we can affirm with the psalm, “In your light we see light” (Ps. 36:9) and with the apostle John, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
For the Awakening,
Timothy and Julie Tennent
THE HYMN
Sing Psalm 36 with the Seedbed Psalter today. We suggest the tune KINGSFOLD ("O Sing a Song of Bethlehem"). You can hear the tune played online by Julie here. If you listen to the podcast audio version, we will sing the psalm in this same tune. For your convenience, the words from the Psalter are printed below.
1 An oracle speaks deep within the heart of wicked man;
No fear of God before his eyes—in sinfulness he stands.
2 In his own eyes, he does not see or comprehend his sin;
He flatters self until he thinks that he is good within.
3 The words he speaks are wicked and deceit within them lies;
For he no longer does what’s good, and is no longer wise.
4 While on his bed, he plots to do much evil all along;
Commits himself to sinful things; does not reject what’s wrong.
5 Your love, O Lord, does reach the heav’ns; Your faithfulness the skies;
6 Your righteousness like mountains great; Your justice deep does lie.
6/7 Lord, You preserve both man and beast—Your love’s beyond all things!
Both high and low find refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8 They feast with great abundance—from Your house, they’re satisfied;
And from Your river of delights, You for them drink provide.
9 For with You is the fount of life, in Your light, we see light.
10 Continue Your unfailing love to those who walk upright.
11 Don’t let the foot of proud ones come against me every day;
Nor let the hand of wicked ones drive me with them away.
12 See how the evildoers all are fallen where they lie.
They are thrown down, and never will be able to arise.
