Psalm 36 (NKJV)
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord.
1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes,
When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
3 The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
4 He devises wickedness on his bed;
He sets himself in a way that is not good;
He does not abhor evil.
5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains;
Your judgments are a great deep;
O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
10 Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
And Your 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 the workers of iniquity have fallen;
They have been cast down and are not able to rise.
Psalm 36, penned by David, the shepherd-king of Israel, is a beautiful and sobering meditation on the stark contrast between human wickedness and God’s boundless goodness. David, a man whose life was marked by trials, triumphs, and a deep relationship with God, often poured his heart into the psalms, reflecting on both his personal experiences and the nature of the world around him. Here, he begins by describing the wicked—those who live without reverence for God, puffed up with self-flattery, speaking deceit, and plotting evil even in the quiet of their beds. They’ve turned away from wisdom and embraced a path of darkness. Then, in a sudden shift, David lifts his gaze to God, whose mercy touches the heavens, whose faithfulness stretches to the clouds, whose righteousness towers like mountains, and whose judgments run as deep as the sea. This is a God who cares for all creation, offering refuge, abundance, and life to those who trust Him. Historically, this psalm emerges from David’s world—a time of tribal conflicts, moral struggles, and a longing for God’s presence amid human failings—yet its truths echo across time, speaking to every heart.
There’s a deep wisdom here for all people: life is a tale of two paths. One is marked by deception, pride, and a rejection of God, leading to a kind of blindness where evil is no longer even recognized as wrong. The other is illuminated by God’s light, where mercy, justice, and love reign supreme. David sings of God as the “fountain of life,” the source of all that is true and real, declaring, “In Your light we see light.” This isn’t just poetic flourish—it’s a revelation that God defines reality itself. His attributes aren’t fleeting opinions but the bedrock of existence, vast and unshakable. For those who don’t see this, who cling to their own distorted truths, they stumble in darkness, deceived by their own making, misunderstanding the world and their place in it. Yet, for those who turn to Him, there’s refuge under His wings, satisfaction in His house, and a river of joy that never runs dry.
This psalm finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who steps into history as the living embodiment of God’s truth. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), echoing David’s vision of God as the fountain of life. Jesus also declares, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), promising that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life—a direct connection to Psalm 36:9. His life and teachings flesh out the lovingkindness and righteousness David praises, bringing grace and truth in a way the law alone never could (John 1:17). Think of His parables, like the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30), where He paints a picture of good and evil growing side by side, much like David’s contrast between the wicked and the righteous. Jesus doesn’t just point to the truth—He is the truth, the Word made flesh, revealing God’s heart to a world lost in shadows.
God, as Psalm 36 shows, is the author of truth and reality, setting the standard for what is good and just. His mercy isn’t a suggestion; it’s as real as the sky above. His righteousness isn’t negotiable; it’s as solid as the mountains. Jesus embodies this reality, showing us what it looks like when God’s truth walks among us. But for those who don’t yet see, who reject this light, they’re caught in darkness—a darkness of deception and misunderstanding, where lies masquerade as truth. Jesus Himself warned that people loved darkness over light because their deeds were evil (John 3:19). It’s a tragic state, but not a hopeless one, because we’re called to change it. As His followers, we’re to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13-16), shining God’s truth into the gloom. We’re to speak that truth with love and compassion (Ephesians 4:15), not with judgment, inviting others to see the reality of God’s kingdom and the hope it brings.
So here’s the challenge Psalm 36 lays before us: which will you choose? The path of darkness, where the father of lies spins webs of deception, or the path of light, where God’s truth sets you free? David saw the wicked fall, cast down by their own choices, while the upright stand firm in God’s care. Jesus offers the same choice—life in His light or stumbling in the shadows. Be a child of truth, a “TeknaTruth,” embracing the reality of God’s love and justice. Turn from the deceptions of this world, step into His light, and invite others to do the same. The fountain of life is flowing—will you drink from it?