Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19960721.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Thirty-Six: God's Protection For The Upright From The Dangerously Ungodly
(Psalm 36:1-12)
  1. Introduction
    1. In facing opposition from ungodly people, the believer may run into people who are so bent on evil that their unrestrained wickedness actually becomes dangerous for the godly who must associate with them.
    2. In such cases, encouragement and direction is in order for the godly, and Psalm 36:1-12 answers the need.
  2. God's Protection For The Upright From The Dangerously Ungodly, Psalm 36:1-12.
    1. Psalm 36 is an expression of David's concern about being ruined by dangerously wicked people, Ps. 36:11.
      1. In his closing appeal to the Lord (v. 6a,11a,12a), David asks that the foot of the proud not come against him. In defeat in battle, the loser would have to bow to the ground with his head, and the foot of the victor would be placed on the loser's head, signifying the outcome of the battle.
      2. David is thus concerned about being defeated and ruined by wicked, violent and destructive people!
    2. In connection with this burden, God gave David insight into the mind of the wicked, violent man with whom he was dealing so that he would know how to find protection from his onslaughts, Ps. 36:1:
      1. The word "oracle" in verse 1 speaks of God's input to His saints, cf. Bib. Know. Com., O.T., p. 821.
      2. The "oracle" David received was insight from God on the sinfulness of the dangerously wicked, 36:1b.
      3. This insight thus equips the believer to know what he is dealing with so as to respond effectively for his own protection from such destructive sinners!
    3. The sinfulness of the wicked as revealed by God shows a "humanly no-win" conflict for the godly, v. 2-4:
      1. First, the dangerously wicked person senses no accountability to God of actually suffering punishment, v. 2a. The word pachad for "fear" of God is better rendered "terror", and in the context shows the wicked person not fearing any accountability by punishment from God!
      2. As a result of this lack of fear of painful divine punishment, the dangerously wicked man flatters himself to the point that he does not view himself as sinful so as to despise that sin in himself, Ps. 36:2b.
      3. This fact leads to his words tending to deceive treacherously, and he becomes unwise and destructive for others with whom he relates, Ps. 36:3. The word "good" here is the same as in Genesis 1 where God's creation order is viewed as "good" or wholesome; thus, he is the opposite, or is destructive!
      4. In fact, so committed is he to having his lusts met that even while trying to sleep, he spends his every waking moments devising destructive schemes to take advantage of others, Ps. 36:4a.
      5. In the process, he commits himself to a course in life that is calamitous for all around him, Ps. 36:4b.
    4. The escape for the godly from the dangerously ungodly is the goodness and loyal love of God:
      1. In contrast to the dangerous ungodly, God and His loyal love which is always faithful toward the godly reaches to the heavens to engulf all of the harmful, frightening activit ies of the wicked, Ps. 36:5.
      2. This great goodness, and its reliability for man is the source of refuge for innocent life on earth, 36:6-7.
      3. In fact, God's faithful loyal love becomes the source not only of protection, but also for rich bounty of life's provisions and spiritual insight as well, Ps. 36:7 with 8-9:
        1. God's faithful loyal love protects man who seeks refuge under God's wings, Ps. 36:7.
        2. That faithful loyal love provides rich material provisions in life as well, Ps. 36:8.
        3. God's faithful loyal love also supplies insight for the spirit, insight such as this important oracle on the sinfulness of the wicked that equips the godly to find adequate protection from the ungodly, 9a,b!
    5. Thus equipped with this insight, David appeals in prayer to God for protection from the destructive ungodly, counting on God's faithful loyal love to come through in his behalf, Ps. 36:10-13.
Lesson: (1) The Lord is so faithful in His loyal love that He has supplied insight on the destructive machinations of very wicked people so that God's people will not try doing battle with them themselves, but rather appeal to God's great power and goodness to "run interference" for them! (2) Thus, DO NOT DO BATTLE IN OUR OWN STRENGTH WITH DANGEROUSLY UNGODLY PARTIES, for their wickedness is so GREAT, and their violations of the "rules" so huge that the godly cannot humanly hope to WIN in direct competition with them! They must let GOD ALMIGHTY Who is faithfully good and All-powerful handle these wicked people FOR them!