Psalm 36 explained: Dark Hearts and Boundless Love

Sin's inner voice (vv. 1-2)

The opening line is hard to translate, but it seems to picture wrongdoing speaking inside a person like a false message from God. Such a person has no awe of God and flatters himself that his wrongs will never be found out or punished.

Words, plans and choices (vv. 3-4)

That inner lie shows up as deceitful talk, and he has given up living wisely or doing good. Even lying in bed at night he plans harm, and he never turns away from evil.

Love bigger than the world (vv. 5-6)

The singer suddenly turns to God and reaches for the highest and deepest things he knows: sky, mountains, the ocean depths. The point is that God's loyal love, reliability and fairness have no limits, and his care covers animals as well as people.

Under wings, at the table (vv. 7-8)

Shelter under God's wings pictures a bird covering its young, and some scholars think it also recalls the winged figures in the place of worship. Feasting in God's house likely points to shared meals at the sanctuary, and the word for "delights" sounds like Eden, perhaps hinting at that first garden.

Fountain and light (v. 9)

Life itself flows from God like water from a spring, and only in his light can people see clearly. Christians later read this alongside John's Gospel, which speaks of Jesus as life and light.

A prayer to stay safe (vv. 10-12)

The singer asks God to keep loving those who know him, and not to let proud, violent people trample him or drive him away. The last verse speaks as if their fall has already happened, a confident picture of them knocked down for good.

Key verse: Psalm 36:9

Something to think about

When you look closely at the worst things people do, what, if anything, keeps you from concluding that the world is simply bad?