Meditations on Psalm 36

Psalm 36 Read it yourself

The wicked: listen to transgression, have no fear of God before his eyes

The psalmist is showing the reader what defines someone as wicked. These are attributes that come from a wicked heart. They are attributes of a rebellious heart.

He listens to transgression deep in his heart: Temptation comes to you not just through the five senses. There is a seat of rebellion in your heart that listens to sin, that contemplates it, that imagines rebellion without consequences.

There is no fear of God before his eyes: His eyes are blind, or shut, you decided to listen to sin and have become blind to the truth. Oswald Chambers said, "Sin blunts feeling" not only so, it also blinds eyes and deafens ears. You are easily distracted from the truth and begin to live a fantasy of falsehood.

You imagine that the sin you imagine within cannot be seen or known by anyone. you can hold on to it without consequence. You pretend that God doesn't really hate sin, especially that one within your heart. The one you imagine and fantasize about.

However, sin does not remain within. Jesus said, "From within, out of a mans heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery. Mark 7:21. All sin first begins in your wicked heart. A contemplation and meditation on sin or transgression results in blindness and deafness followed by deceit and trouble.

You begin to speak from and through the sin within. You say foolish things, lies and deceitfulness. The lies are lies to yourself mostly.  You don't consciously know that you are lying. Perhaps you have a little trepidation at first. But when your lie remains unchallenged you become bolder, and blinder.

The sin progresses to the point of plotting trouble, making a plan,and finally you begin to pursue a path of destruction. This is the result of a fallen nature. Without God's redemption you will eventually destroy yourself.

The Psalmist's solution? Meditate on God.

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens...

Love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice; these are God's character, they define who He is.

Precious refuge, feasting abundance, delightful drinking, a fountain of life and light are all poetic images of life lived in God's presence.

What is God like, how well can you articulate his attributes? As you contemplate Him, you become aware of the sin with which you have been deluding yourself. You see what you have been blind to.

The upright of heart see God and trust in his goodness.

The wicked become arrogant and driven. Hard hearted, they are thrust down unable to rise. Like a rock they sink into sin, enslaved and enmeshed in a prison.

Oh Lord, reveal my sin, let me walk in the light of your truth. Let me embrace repentance and humility as a way of life. Let me see the beauty and joy that are the essence of your being.