Psalm 36

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 36:7-9

The result of this philosophy of life contrasts with that of the wicked (Psalms 36:2-4). Because God is lovingly loyal, His people can find refuge in Him (cf. Ruth 2:12; Matthew 23:37). They also enjoy the provisions of His house. They experience a virtual paradise on earth, as Adam and Eve did in Eden before the Fall. God provides life and the light of understanding for those who take Him into account."Knowing the character of God is essential to a balanced Christian life, and these five... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 36:10-12

3. Request concerning the future 36:10-12David prayed in closing that God’s loyal love and righteousness would continue to captivate his affections so that the evil philosophy of the wicked would not win his heart. He wanted to abide in humble submission to the Lord rather than rising up in pride and disregarding Him. The ultimate end of the wicked would be destruction from which they could not recover."Our best defense against violence is still prayer." [Note: Leupold, p. 297.] We may... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 36:1-12

This Ps. consists of two strongly contrasted pictures, one of the wickedness of the wicked man (Psalms 36:1-4), and one of the goodness of God (Psalms 36:5-9), followed by a prayer that the Psalmist may continue to enjoy God’s blessing (Psalms 36:10-11), and by a confident assurance of the final overthrow of the wicked (Psalms 36:12). The Ps. seems to reflect the social conditions of a later age than David’s. 1. The transgression of the wicked saith] Sin is personified as an oracle to whose... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36

XXXVI.This psalm consists of three distinctly defined stanzas of nearly equal length. The first portrays the wicked man who has reached the lowest grade of impiety. The second exalts the goodness and justice of God. The third, which is, in a sort, a practical application of the others, expresses, under the form of a prayer, the right choice to make between the two tendencies, the pious and the impious. The sudden transition at the end of the first stanza has led some critics to pronounce the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:1

(1) The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart . . .—The literal rendering of the present Hebrew text is, An utterance of sin to the wicked within my heart. The common phrase rendered in our version, “Thus saith Jehovah,” is here imitated, “Thus saith sin.” “To the wicked” cannot, as some explain, mean “concerning the wicked.” The only possible meaning of the text as it stands is therefore, “Thus saith sin to (me) the wicked man in my heart.” But there can be no question that the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:2

(2) For he flattereth . . .—Literally, For he (or, it) makes smooth to him in his eyes to find out his evil to hate. (See margin.) A sentence of great difficulty. We must seek for the key to the interpretation of these words in the balance of the two phrases, “before his eyes,” “in his own eyes,” and must take the two verses together. They form, in fact, an example of introverted parallelism. (See Gen. Introduction.)Sin is the wicked man’s oracle in his heart;No fear of God is before his... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:3-4

(3, 4) From the secret promptings of sin, the description of the ungodly passes on to its issues in words and deeds. It is an awful picture of wickedness of a man abandoning himself without check or remorse to the inspiration of his own evil heart. He goes from bad to worse. In a great English tragedy, the murderer, though he has determined to wade farther in blood, yet prays against the horror of nightly temptations:“Merciful powers,Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that natureGives way to in... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:5

(5) Thy mercy, O Lord, is in . . .—Better,Jehovah, to the heavens (reacheth) thy grace,Thy faithfulness to the sky.i.e., there are no narrower bounds of divine mercy and truth. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:6

(6) Great mountains.—See margin, and compare Psalms 80:10, “cedars of God.” So too the rain is called “God’s brook.” The epithet not only implies greatness and dignity, but also has reference to God as Creator.A great deep.—The reference, as usual, with the words deep, depth, is to the great abyss of waters, of which the seas were regarded as the surface.The twofold comparison in this verse recalls Wordsworth’s lines—“Two voices are there: one is of the sea.One of the mountains—each a mighty... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:7

(7) How excellent.—Better, how precious.Therefore . . .—Better, the simple conjunction, and sons of men, they find shelter, &cShadow of thy wings.—See Psalms 17:8, Note. read more

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 36:7-9

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 36:10-12

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 36:1-12

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:1

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:2

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:3-4

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:5

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:6

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 36:7

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