NO FEAR OF GOD
PSALM 36:1-12
PSALM 36:1-12
Introduction:
David refers to himself as a servant of God in the introduction of the psalm. The apostle Paul, in quoting part of this psalm (Romans 3:10, etc.) to prove that Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (v. 9) and that all the world is guilty before God (v. 19). Consider the following thoughts.
I. DAVID DESCRIBES THE REBELLIOUS
A. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit, v.3.
1. The words of the foolish man, Psalm 14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
2. God’s evaluation of man, Psalm 14:2-3, “The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3-They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy (Heb.-stinking): there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
a. The sinner has no understanding of God, Romans 3:11, “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.”
b. All people without exception are unrighteous outside of Jesus Christ, Romans 1:18, 29-31, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 29-Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30- Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31-Without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”
B. Man deceives himself, v. 2; Deuteronomy 29:19, “And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:”
1. His heart is perverse, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
2. Man loves to oppress others, Hosea 12:7, “He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.”
C. He devises (to invent or plan) mischief upon his bed, v. 4; Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
1. Sin always occupies their mind, Proverbs 4:16, “For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.”
2. Sin burns in their hearts, Hosea 7:6, “For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.”
II. DAVID EXTOLS THE ATTRIBUTES OF THE LORD
A. The baseness of the wicked turns David’s contemplation to the glory of God, vv. 5-8.
1. David thinks on the goodness of God, v. 5; Psalm 52:1, “Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.”
2. He thinks of God’s righteousness, v. 6; Psalms 145:17, “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
3. He thinks of God’s lovingkindness, Psalms 31:19, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!”
B. David remembers that those who learn to put their trust in God shall be received into his presence, vv. 9-10; Psalms 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
1. He knows that God is the source of life, v. 9; Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
2. In the Lord David saw the light of life, John 8:12, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
III. DAVID SEES THE DANGER AND END OF THE SINNER
A. David see the errors of the unbeliever, v. 11; Jeremiah 2:13, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
1. They have forsaken the fountain of living waters, Jeremiah 2:17, “Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?”
2. The have built themselves cisterns that hold no water, 2 Peter 2:17, “These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.”
B. David sees the defeat of the wicked, v. 12; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 3-Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
CONCLUSION