Psa 36 | MHM | STEP | The Wickedness of the Wicked David calls himself the servant of the Lord in this psalm, which is a title of honor. In these verses, he describes people who are truly wicked. He explains not only what they do, but also the reasons in their hearts that lead them to do evil. David shows that sin starts deep inside and then grows into sinful actions and attitudes. v. 1 : David says that wickedness comes from having no respect or fear for God. He writes, The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes . People who do not care about God’s power or judgment feel free to break His laws.

‏ Psalms 36

The Wickedness of the Wicked

David calls himself the servant of the Lord in this psalm, which is a title of honor. In these verses, he describes people who are truly wicked. He explains not only what they do, but also the reasons in their hearts that lead them to do evil. David shows that sin starts deep inside and then grows into sinful actions and attitudes.

v. 1: David says that wickedness comes from having no respect or fear for God. He writes, The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes . People who do not care about God’s power or judgment feel free to break His laws.

v. 2: He explains that wicked people trick themselves. He flattereth himself in his own eyes . They pretend their actions are wise or good, and ignore the evil or danger of their sin. They tell themselves nothing bad will happen, but one day, their own sin will be hateful to them and bring regret (Job 20:13–14 ^a).

v. 3: David says that their words are full of lies and evil. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit . They do not care about speaking the truth or doing good. When people stop doing good, they become foolish and turn away from wisdom.

v. 4: He describes how such people plan evil. He deviseth mischief upon his bed . Instead of thinking about good things, they use their time and minds to make evil plans. They stubbornly stick to their wrong ways and do not hate evil, but are happy to do what is wrong.

David may have been thinking about King Saul, who turned away from God and tried to harm David. But these verses apply to anyone who lives without respect for God and delights in doing evil. David reminds us how serious it is to let sin take root in our hearts, and how important it is to fear God and turn from evil.

The Amazing Goodness of God

After describing the wickedness of the world, David turns his eyes upward to meditate on the goodness and mercy of God. This contrast between human sin and God’s perfect grace brings him comfort. David reflects on God’s love, faithfulness, wisdom, and providence, and he prays for the continuation of God’s blessings upon His people.

v. 5: David praises God’s infinite mercy and truth. He says, Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds . God’s mercy is higher than anything on earth, and His faithfulness is unchanging, even when people are unfaithful.

v. 6: David speaks of God’s justice and wisdom. He says, Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep . God’s justice is solid and unshakable, like mountains, and His ways are too deep for humans to fully understand. David also acknowledges God’s care for all creation, saying, Thou preservest man and beast.

v. 7: David marvels at the preciousness of God’s love. He says, How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings . God’s love draws people to Him, like a mother bird protecting her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37 ^b).

v. 8: David describes the blessings of being close to God. He says, They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures . Those who trust in God will find satisfaction and joy, far greater than anything the world can offer.

v. 9: David declares that all life and light come from God. He says, For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light . God is the source of physical and spiritual life, and His light brings understanding, joy, and eternal satisfaction (John 1:4 ^c).

v. 10: David prays for God to continue showing His love to those who know Him. He says, O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart . David asks that God’s blessings remain with His faithful people forever.

v. 11: David asks God to protect him from the attacks of the wicked. He prays, Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me . David desires to stay firm in his faith and not be shaken by the schemes of evil people.

v. 12: David looks forward to the ultimate defeat of the wicked. He says, There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise (Psalm 36:12 ^d). He trusts that God’s justice will triumph, and the enemies of righteousness will be defeated forever.

David’s reflections remind us of the greatness of God’s love and the blessings that come from trusting Him. Even in a dark world, God’s goodness shines brightly, offering life, joy, and hope to all who seek Him.