Psalms 36:9 - Exposition

For with thee is the fountain of life . The ultimate source of all life is God. Israel had been taught by Moses ( Deuteronomy 30:20 ) that God was their Life; but this was not all; he is equally the Origin of life to everything that lives—to angels, men, beasts, birds, fishes, zoophytes, plants (see Genesis 1:11 , Genesis 1:20 , Genesis 1:24 , Genesis 1:27 , etc.). And, as he is the sole Source of natural life, so is he also the one and only Origin of spiritual vitality ( Psalms 30:5 ; Psalms 66:9 ; John 1:4 ; John 6:57 ; John 7:37-39 , etc.). And in thy light shall we see light (comp. John 1:4 , John 1:5 , John 1:9 ; 1 John 1:5-7 ). God is essentially Life and Light. He "has life in himself" ( John 5:26 ). He "is Light, and in him is no darkness at all" ( 1 John 1:5 ). The Son, who is "the Light of the world" ( John 8:12 ), is hut "the Effulgence of his Father's glory" ( Hebrews 1:3 , Revised Version), "Light of light," the ray which streams from the Sun of the universe. Yet from him comes the light which enlighteneth all creatures ( John 1:9 ). "In his light we see light."