Psalm 36 – Sin Directs the Heart
In Psalm 36 – Sin directs the heart of the wicked, the writer declares. The psalm contrasts the ways of the sinner with the ways of God.
Psalm 36 – the Wicked
Psalm 36 begins with an oracle from God, according to some translations. God is speaking to David’s heart:
“I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked.” NIV
“An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked,” NKJV states.
In some translations God is speaking to the heart of David, in others, sin is speaking to the wicked directing their actions.
“Sin directs the heart of the wicked man; his eyes are closed to the fear of God.” (2, NAB, please note, in some Catholic versions of the psalms the numbering is different as in this psalm.)
“Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts. They have no fear of God at all.” (1, New Living Bible)
Regardless of the translation, the psalm gives a concise and compelling description of the sinful:
“For he lives with the delusion: his guilt will not be known and hated.
Empty and false are the words of his mouth; he has ceased to be wise and do good.
On his bed he hatches plots; he sets out on a wicked way; he does not reject evil.” (NAB 3-5)
Where others lay in bed and pray, the wicked plot evil.
Psalm 36 – The Goodness of God
This is contrasted with the mercy of God:
“Lord, your mercy reaches to heaven; your fidelity, to the clouds.
And your justice is like the highest mountains; your judgments, like the mighty deep; human being and beast you sustain, Lord.
How precious is your mercy, O God! The children of Adam take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the rich food of your house; from your delightful stream you give them drink.
For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light.” (6-10)
David clearly delights in God, with good reason.
The psalm ends with a prayer that God protect the just and deliver justice to the wicked:
“Show mercy on those who know you, your just defense to the upright of heart.
Do not let the foot of the proud overtake me, nor the hand of the wicked disturb me.
There make the evildoers fall; thrust them down, unable to rise.” (11-13)
A prophetic look at the final judgment of the wicked.
Psalm 36 – Sin Directs the Heart
Are the wicked unaware of their sin and thus less culpable, or are they aware yet continue to cling to their evil deeds? There is room for both interpretations in this psalm. One translation of verse 2 states: “In their blind conceit, they cannot see how wicked they really are,” supporting the charge that they are not aware of their sins. Or, are they willingly deceiving themselves? “For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found and hated.” (2, RSV)
Such is the nature of sin. It whispers deep within our hearts and deceives us about its nature. Sin flatters the sinner into thinking it is not so bad. As one commentator states:
“The second verse is also difficult. It may mean that sinners flatter themselves into thinking that their sin is not so bad, even though others grow to hate them for it. The sinner is blind to what everyone else plainly sees, namely, that his sin is repugnant. Or it may mean that sin flatters the sinner so that he cannot see his own sin or hate it for how evil it is. He is so deluded by his sin that he thinks he is right, or at least that he is no worse than everyone else.” (Psalm 36: Deceived by Sin or Delighted in God? | Bible.org)
The root of sin. though, is stated in the first verse: the wicked have no fear of God. If you do not believe in or fear God, your heart is ripe for sin to take root and direct your thoughts and actions.
Who, or What, Directs Your Heart?
As mentioned above, depending on the translation, this psalm opens with God speaking to David’s heart, or sin speaking to the wicked. Therein lies the difference from the wicked and the good. Who are we listening to? Are we listening to God or sin? Do we allow lies to deceive us by listening to sin? Or do we listen to and delight in our God?
The choice is ours. What do you choose?
(For another take on this psalm see: Psalm 36 – Dealing with Evil – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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