Psa 36:7 | KingComments | STEP | Without transition, without introduction, suddenly the LORD is there ( ). How is that possible? The answer is: His lovingkindness, or His covenant faithfulness. For us, the LORD’s actions are based on the blood of the new covenant, which is for us. His faithfulness is based on the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. This psalm, as noted at , is an oracle of God, indicating that everything here is seen from God’s point of view. Therefore, here in we can have the abrupt transition into a song of praise to God’s covenant faithfulness. In contrast to the glorification of the ungodly of himself in , is the glorification of God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness by the God-fearing ( ). God’s “lovingkindness, … extends to the heavens”. This means that God’s lovingkindness will accompany the righteous on earth until he is in heaven. Also, the righteous counts on the faithfulness of God that goes beyond the earthly events and reaches “to the skies”. It means that the lovingkindness and faithfulness of God are immeasurably great (cf. ). As far as the eye reaches, they are visible. Lovingkindness is the source of God’s acting and provides comfort in difficult circumstances. Faithfulness is the anchor to which the believer clings. Faithfulness offers security. Attached to God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness is His “righteousness” ( ). It is unshakable “like the mountains of God”, like the mighty mountains. His righteousness is manifested in His government which is for judgment to the ungodly and for redemption to the righteous. He always acts in accordance with Who He is, in accordance with His holiness and His love. In His judgments in the great tribulation, which are like “a great deep”, He preserves “men and beasts”. This recalls God’s judgment of the flood ( ), that men and beasts are preserved in the ark and then come out of the ark onto an earth cleansed by the judgments ( ). So it will be in the realm of peace after the great tribulation ( ). In the realm of peace, it will become clear “how precious” God’s “lovingkindness” is, for everything enjoyed then is a result of it ( ). This principle applies not only to the realm of peace. God’s lovingkindness is already now the reason, “for the children of men to take refuge in the shadow of Your wings” (cf. ; ). God offers protection and safety. We see a foreshadowing of this in nature with chicks crawling under mother’s wings when danger threatens ( ; ). In the shadow of God’s wings, the children of men find not only protection, but also an abundance of blessings: “They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house” ( ). The blessings here are to be permitted to eat of the peace offering that speaks of fellowship with the LORD and with one another. God gives them there to drink from “the river of Your delights” or, as it is translated in the Dutch translation, to drink from “the brook full of delectable gifts” (cf. ). This is characteristic of the joy of all who partake of the Divine nature. Where God has His joy, that is where His own have their joy. By the “delights” or “delectable gifts” we can think of all the gifts we have received in Christ, both spiritual and material. For both gifts apply: what do we have that we have not received ( )? All gifts find their summary in the one great gift of God: Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!” ( ). This abundance of blessings may be enjoyed by us New Testament believers in a higher way than is possible for believers associated with God’s earthly people. Christ has become our life. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. We have been given eternal life. Our fellowship is by the Spirit with the Father and the Son and with one another. This causes complete joy ( ). We can enjoy all this because we have been put in connection with Him with Whom is “the fountain of life” ( ). Fountain means well of water. Life means a well of living water, water that gives life and refreshment. For us it goes even further. That well is not only “with” us, but in us ( ). We have that well in Christ, Who dwells in our hearts through faith ( ), and in the eternal life – that is He Himself ( ) – that we have received ( ). We also have that well within us through the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us, enabling us to become a well of water for others in turn ( ). In addition to being the fountain of life, God is also “light”, and in His light we “see the light”. Seeing the light is connected with “life” ( ). This means that they receive life in the light of God. Life and light belong together. This is seen in Christ: “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men“ ( ). In the context in which it appears here, it means that the light shows the believer the way in the darkness in which the world is shrouded. It is about the light of God giving light in the darkness. The deeper meaning is that the light shines into dark human hearts and reveals what is in them. It reveals the sinner and also shows Who God is and what He has done to save the sinner.

‏ Psalms 36:7

Precious Lovingkindness

Without transition, without introduction, suddenly the LORD is there (Psa 36:5). How is that possible? The answer is: His lovingkindness, or His covenant faithfulness. For us, the LORD’s actions are based on the blood of the new covenant, which is for us. His faithfulness is based on the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. This psalm, as noted at Psa 36:1b, is an oracle of God, indicating that everything here is seen from God’s point of view. Therefore, here in Psa 36:5 we can have the abrupt transition into a song of praise to God’s covenant faithfulness.

In contrast to the glorification of the ungodly of himself in Psa 36:2, is the glorification of God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness by the God-fearing (Psa 36:5). God’s “lovingkindness, … extends to the heavens”. This means that God’s lovingkindness will accompany the righteous on earth until he is in heaven. Also, the righteous counts on the faithfulness of God that goes beyond the earthly events and reaches “to the skies”.

It means that the lovingkindness and faithfulness of God are immeasurably great (cf. Psa 57:10). As far as the eye reaches, they are visible. Lovingkindness is the source of God’s acting and provides comfort in difficult circumstances. Faithfulness is the anchor to which the believer clings. Faithfulness offers security.

Attached to God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness is His “righteousness” (Psa 36:6). It is unshakable “like the mountains of God”, like the mighty mountains. His righteousness is manifested in His government which is for judgment to the ungodly and for redemption to the righteous. He always acts in accordance with Who He is, in accordance with His holiness and His love.

In His judgments in the great tribulation, which are like “a great deep”, He preserves “men and beasts”. This recalls God’s judgment of the flood (Gen 7:11), that men and beasts are preserved in the ark and then come out of the ark onto an earth cleansed by the judgments (Gen 8:18-19). So it will be in the realm of peace after the great tribulation (Rom 8:20-21).

In the realm of peace, it will become clear “how precious” God’s “lovingkindness” is, for everything enjoyed then is a result of it (Psa 36:7). This principle applies not only to the realm of peace. God’s lovingkindness is already now the reason, “for the children of men to take refuge in the shadow of Your wings” (cf. Rth 2:12; Psa 17:8 ; Psa 57:1b ; Psa 61:4 ; Psa 63:7 ; Psa 91:4). God offers protection and safety. We see a foreshadowing of this in nature with chicks crawling under mother’s wings when danger threatens (Mt 23:37; Lk 13:34).

In the shadow of God’s wings, the children of men find not only protection, but also an abundance of blessings: “They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house” (Psa 36:8). The blessings here are to be permitted to eat of the peace offering that speaks of fellowship with the LORD and with one another.

God gives them there to drink from “the river of Your delights” or, as it is translated in the Dutch translation, to drink from “the brook full of delectable gifts” (cf. Eze 47:1-5). This is characteristic of the joy of all who partake of the Divine nature. Where God has His joy, that is where His own have their joy. By the “delights” or “delectable gifts” we can think of all the gifts we have received in Christ, both spiritual and material. For both gifts apply: what do we have that we have not received (1Cor 4:7)? All gifts find their summary in the one great gift of God: Christ. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!” (2Cor 9:15).

This abundance of blessings may be enjoyed by us New Testament believers in a higher way than is possible for believers associated with God’s earthly people. Christ has become our life. The Holy Spirit dwells in us. We have been given eternal life. Our fellowship is by the Spirit with the Father and the Son and with one another. This causes complete joy (1Jn 1:1-4).

We can enjoy all this because we have been put in connection with Him with Whom is “the fountain of life” (Psa 36:9). Fountain means well of water. Life means a well of living water, water that gives life and refreshment. For us it goes even further. That well is not only “with” us, but in us (Jn 14:16-17). We have that well in Christ, Who dwells in our hearts through faith (Eph 3:17), and in the eternal life – that is He Himself (1Jn 5:20) – that we have received (Jn 4:14). We also have that well within us through the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us, enabling us to become a well of water for others in turn (Jn 7:37-39).

In addition to being the fountain of life, God is also “light”, and in His light we “see the light”. Seeing the light is connected with “life” (Psa 49:19). This means that they receive life in the light of God. Life and light belong together. This is seen in Christ: “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men“ (Jn 1:4). In the context in which it appears here, it means that the light shows the believer the way in the darkness in which the world is shrouded. It is about the light of God giving light in the darkness.

The deeper meaning is that the light shines into dark human hearts and reveals what is in them. It reveals the sinner and also shows Who God is and what He has done to save the sinner.