Psalm 36

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

Verse 12 12.There the workers of iniquity are fallen. Here he derives confidence from his prayer, not doubting that he has already obtained his request. And thus we see how the certainty of faith directs the saints to prayer. Besides, still farther to confirm his confidence and hope in God, he shows, as it were, by pointing to it with the finger, the certain destruction of the wicked, even though it lay as yet concealed in the future. In this respect, the adverb there (13) is not superfluous;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart. This is a difficult passage. In the first place, the text is uncertain, since some manuscripts have לבו , "his heart," in the place of לבי , "my heart." And further, whichever reading we prefer, the meaning is far from clear. Dr. Kay translates, "Transgression's oracle to the wicked is, 'In the interior of my own heart;'" and understands the meaning to be that the sinfulness of the wicked man deludes him into the belief that his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-4

God's revelation of man to himself; or, the transgressors heart turned inside out. It has been thought by some that this psalm was written about the time when Saul gave his daughter Michal to David with a treacherous design (see Walford, in loc. ); by others, that it is a general description of some of the wicked men—such as Saul, Absalom, Ahithophel, etc.—with whom David was brought into contact (see Fausset hereon). But there is no clue in the psalm itself to any such specific... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

The psalm divides itself into three strophes, corresponding to the division of the subject-matter. Strophe 1. ( Psalms 36:1-4 ) gives the portrait of the wicked man. Strophe 2. ( Psalms 36:5-9 ) paints the Divine goodness. Strophe 3. ( Psalms 36:10-12 ) contains the prayer and the expression of confidence. The title ascribes the psalm to David; and the critics generally acquiesce. Some of them point out special Davidical indications; but no one has ventured to assign it to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

We have here a terrible picture of, the wicked man. I. HIS HEART IS THE SEAT OF EVIL . It is there as an "oracle.' It is enthroned. It speaks with authority. It gives forth its decrees for obedience. The true is opposed by the false. Righteousness gives place to unrighteousness. All counsels of reason and compunctions of conscience are hushed by the cry, "No God!" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:3 , 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ). II. HIS LIFE IS MARKED BY ABANDONMENT TO ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

Aspice. Look around , how distressing is the scene! Look back , it is the fame tale of human care and crime. Look before , little to encourage, or to lead us to believe that things will be better than they are. But look up , and we can take heart, and speak one to another of better times. Clod reigns. Christ is at the right hand of the Father, to carry out his gracious purposes. Though there be much that is dark and depressing, yet we are able still to pray to God as "our Father,"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

The curse of wickedness and the blessedness of fellowship with God. The psalmist complains of the moral corruption of his generation, and points the character of the time rather than any particular occurrence—unless "the foot of pride" in the eleventh verse may possibly refer to some invader that he dreaded. We have here a vivid description of the cursed state of ingrained , deliberate wickedness , and of the supreme blessedness of fellowship with God. I. THE CURSE OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:2

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful . Another very obscure verse, explained in various ways. The rendering of Professor Alexander is to be preferred, "For he fiattereth himself in his own eyes, as to God ' s finding his sin and hating it ;" i.e. he flatters himself that he will conceal his sin from God, so that God will not discover it to hate it (see also the comment of Dr. Kay, and the Revised Version) read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:3

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit (comp. Psalms 12:2 ; Psalms 28:3 ). He hath left off to be wise, and to do good. There was a time when he occasionally acted wisely, and did what was right. But that time is gone by. Now he is consistently wicked. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:4

He deviseth mischief upon his bed ; rather, he deviseth iniquity — the same word as in the preceding verse. In the night, when he should be looked in innocent slumber, he lies awake, devising wicked schemes against others (comp. Proverbs 4:16 ; Micah 2:1 ). He setteth himself in a way that is not good. More correct than the Prayer-book Version, "He hath set himself in no good way." The wicked man is not merely negatively bad; he determinately chooses a path of life that is evil. ... read more

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 36:4

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