Psalm 36 - The Old Man VS The Sovereignty of God
He must become greater; I must become less. John 3:30
Jesus said, "When it is evening and the sky is red you say, 'It will be good weather.' In the morning when the sky is red and dark you say, 'It will be very bad weather.' You are hypocrites. You can understand the signs in the sky. Can you not understand the signs of the times." Matthew 16:2-3
This is a psalm of David - he is the music leader, the servant of the Lord. It is written to be sung, and compares man to God.
Man vs. Sovereignty
The Old Man
The first verses are a picture of those who refuse to walk with Him (their behaviors).
Vs 1-2 The inside of a carnal person -- the one we can't see:
conceited
no fear of God
blind to their thoughts and actions
Vs 3-4 The part everyone can see --
hear their wicked words
wisdom of the world
see their actions and their results are evil
they lie awake and think of sinful plots
self-serving
they make no pretense of doing good or even consider it
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5
Our internal attitude shows in our outward behavior. These people are refusing God's character and living out of their own. What is the pattern of my life? Am I exuding that which is on the inside, which should be the mind of Christ?
Vs 5-9 All about God
Look at our world -
See the clouds in the sky.
See the mountains and the seas.
Let these show you, remind you of Who He is!
Sky -- His love -- He keeps everything in order -- prevents chaos.
Vastness
Clouds
He keeps His promises.
God is righteous.
V6 Mountains -- mighty, strong, immoveable, incomprehensible
God can do only what is right - He is just.
He will reward good.
He will punish sin.
He is fair and right.
Sea
You care for all living creatures. You care for me!
We find shelter in the shadow of His wings.
Vs 7-10 God is good.
He has unfailing love.
He shelters us.
He feeds us abundantly.
He gives us water to drink - from an unlimited source of delight.
He is our fountain of life. John 4:14
V9 He is the Light by which we see! (not talking about the sunlight, but the Son light - the Holy Spirit revelation of truth)
We would walk in darkness without Him.
V10 Pour out, shower us with unfailing love. Cover those who love You!
Give justice - rule in our favor, those of us who love You, those You call by name.
V11 We don't want those who reject You to
trample us
push us around
dishonor Your Name.
Be our defender. Don't let the circumstances overwhelm us.
V12 Faith rises and we see what can only be seen by faith.
Look! They have fallen. NLT
They have been thrown down - never to rise again.
It's over. The victory is already won!
Here David has been given a glimpse into the knowledge God has revealed - into the future. He gains courage and trust from what he sees, that which can't be seen except God reveals it.
God is sovereign over all.
He does what He says He will do!
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