The superscription associates the psalm with David, the servant of the Lord.
The Wicked Heart and the Fountain of Life in the Lord's Steadfast Love
The wicked path begins where the fear of God is absent, but those who know the Lord find refuge, satisfaction, life, light, and final security in His steadfast love.
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The wicked path begins where the fear of God is absent, but those who know the Lord find refuge, satisfaction, life, light, and final security in His steadfast love.
Psalm 36 argues that wickedness is fundamentally theological before it is behavioral: where the fear of God is absent, self-deception, deceitful speech, and evil conduct follow. The answer is not confidence in human goodness but worshipful refuge in the Lord whose steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, life, and light are immeasurable and sufficient for those who know Him.
The worshiping community, especially those needing wisdom to discern wicked self-deception, refuge in God, and confidence that evil will not finally stand.
The psalm does not identify a specific historical episode. It presents a general but piercing moral diagnosis of the wicked and a worshipful confession of the Lord's covenant character and preserving care.
The wicked path begins where the fear of God is absent, but those who know the Lord find refuge, satisfaction, life, light, and final security in His steadfast love.
The superscription associates the psalm with David, the servant of the Lord.
The worshiping community, especially those needing wisdom to discern wicked self-deception, refuge in God, and confidence that evil will not finally stand.
The psalm does not identify a specific historical episode. It presents a general but piercing moral diagnosis of the wicked and a worshipful confession of the Lord's covenant character and preserving care.
- The chapter assumes a world where wicked people plot evil, use deceitful speech, refuse wisdom, and exercise proud power against the upright, requiring the faithful to seek refuge in the Lord rather than trust appearances.
The psalm draws on wisdom categories, covenant refuge imagery, temple-house satisfaction, protective wing imagery, creation-preservation language, and royal-servant prayer. The bed-scene in verse 4 exposes evil as premeditated rather than impulsive.
Within Book I of the Psalter, Psalm 36 contributes to the Davidic and wisdom-shaped contrast between the way of the wicked and the refuge of the righteous, grounding hope not in human moral capacity but in the Lord’s boundless covenant love, righteousness, and life-giving presence.
Wickedness speaks within the heart -> no fear of God governs the eyes -> self-flattery hides sin -> deceitful speech and evil plotting form a settled way -> the Lord's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice are praised as immeasurable -> His people take refuge under His wings and are satisfied in His house -> life and light flow from Him -> David prays for continued covenant love and protection -> evildoers are seen fallen and unable to rise
Theological exposition and fulfillment
Psalm 36 forms worshipers who are morally awake, God-centered, refuge-seeking, and satisfied in the Lord’s life and light.
The wicked are described from heart to eyes, mouth, bed, path, and will: no fear of God, self-flattery, deceitful speech, evil plotting, and refusal to reject wrong.
The Lord’s love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, and preserving care are praised with cosmic and creational imagery.
People find refuge under God’s wings, satisfaction in His house, delight from His river, life from His fountain, and sight in His light.
David asks for continued love and righteousness for those who know the Lord and sees evildoers fallen and unable to rise.
- 1-4: Wickedness begins with the absence of God’s fear, protects itself through self-flattery, expresses itself through deceit, and commits itself to a sinful way.
- 5-6: The Lord’s steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice are immeasurable, and His preserving mercy extends over people and animals.
- 7-9: Those who take refuge in the Lord are not merely spared from danger · they are satisfied with His abundance and brought into His life and light.
- 10-12: David prays that covenant love and righteousness continue to those who know God while proud wickedness is restrained and finally overthrown.
Theological Argument
Psalm 36 argues that wickedness is fundamentally theological before it is behavioral: where the fear of God is absent, self-deception, deceitful speech, and evil conduct follow. The answer is not confidence in human goodness but worshipful refuge in the Lord whose steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, life, and light are immeasurable and sufficient for those who know Him.
diagnosis of no fear of God -> exposure of self-deception and settled evil -> praise of God's covenant perfections -> refuge and satisfaction in divine presence -> prayer for ongoing love and righteousness -> assurance that evildoers fall
- 1.Sin governs perception when the fear of God is absent.
- 2.Self-flattery protects sin from repentance.
- 3.The LORD’s covenant character is greater than human corruption.
- 4.True refuge includes satisfaction in God Himself.
- 5.The people of God live by continued mercy and righteousness, not self-preservation.
- 6.Proud wickedness will not finally stand.
Theological Focus
- Fear of God
- Human depravity and self-deception
- Steadfast love and faithfulness
- Righteousness and justice
- Divine refuge and satisfaction
- Final collapse of evil
- Doctrine of sin
- Doctrine of God
- Providence
- Sanctification
- Judgment
- Gospel diagnosis and hope
Covenant Significance
Psalm 36 frames covenant life around knowing the Lord, receiving His continuing steadfast love and righteousness, and taking refuge under His wings. The wicked are not merely outside a moral code; they are outside the fear of God, while the upright in heart depend on the Lord's covenant character for protection, satisfaction, and endurance.
- Covenant love - The repeated emphasis on steadfast love anchors the faithful community in the Lord’s loyal mercy rather than human merit.
- Covenant knowledge - Those who know the Lord are the recipients for whom David asks continued love.
- Covenant righteousness - The upright in heart need God’s righteousness to continue toward them amid proud opposition.
- Covenant refuge - The wing imagery presents the Lord as protective shelter for those who come to Him in trust.
Canonical Connections
The self-flattering deception of sin in Psalm 36 coheres with the first sin, where distorted perception and desire displace reverent trust in God.
The Lord’s steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice in Psalm 36 echo the covenant character revealed at Sinai.
The fear of the Lord commanded in covenant life stands behind Psalm 36’s diagnosis of wickedness as no fear of God before the eyes.
Psalm 1’s contrast between the righteous and wicked provides a Book I wisdom framework for Psalm 36’s contrast between wicked self-deception and refuge in the Lord.
The plea to be hidden in the shadow of God’s wings parallels Psalm 36’s refuge under the shadow of His wings.
The language of God’s love reaching to the heavens and faithfulness to the skies closely parallels Psalm 36:5.
Psalm 91 develops the refuge-under-wings imagery that Psalm 36 uses for those who trust in God’s precious love.
Jeremiah’s charge that Israel forsook the fountain of living waters deepens the canonical significance of Psalm 36’s confession that the fountain of life is with the Lord.
Paul cites Psalm 36:1 as part of the apostolic indictment that all humanity is under sin and lacks the fear of God.
Psalm 36’s life-and-light confession provides canonical vocabulary that John brings to fullness in the revelation of the Word as life and light.
The river and satisfaction imagery of Psalm 36 coheres with Jesus’ invitation to come to Him and drink, with living water connected to the Spirit.
The river, life, and light imagery reaches consummate expression in the new creation, where the river of life flows and the Lord gives light to His servants.
Psalm 36 clarifies the gospel problem and the gospel hope. The problem is not merely that people make bad choices; sin speaks within, the fear of God is absent, and self-flattery hides guilt. The hope is that the Lord’s steadfast love, righteousness, life, and light are greater than the darkness of human rebellion. In the wider canon, the same diagnosis drives sinners to the righteousness of God revealed in Christ, where life and light are given by grace.
- Do not treat Psalm 36 as if human beings can simply choose moral improvement without divine mercy.
- Do not preach the fountain of life and light apart from the prior diagnosis of sin and lack of God’s fear.
- Do not make the final fall of evildoers a license for personal contempt · it is a sober confidence in divine justice.
Primary Emphasis
Psalm 36 contributes to the canonical grammar of sin, life, light, and divine refuge. Romans 3 uses Psalm 36:1 in the apostolic diagnosis of universal human guilt, while the life-and-light imagery finds its fullest canonical clarity in Christ, in whom life is revealed and light shines. This connection should be made without bypassing the psalm's own Davidic wisdom and worship setting.
Chapter Contribution
Psalm 36 argues that wickedness is fundamentally theological before it is behavioral: where the fear of God is absent, self-deception, deceitful speech, and evil conduct follow. The answer is not confidence in human goodness but worshipful refuge in the Lord whose steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, justice, life, and light are immeasurable and sufficient for those who know Him.
God’s providential care extends broadly to all humans and even to the animal kingdom, regardless of their moral state.
Human beings are dependent upon the light of God's revelation to perceive any spiritual or ultimate reality accurately.
The believer is dependent on a continuous, extended stream of God's 'Hesed' for daily survival and spiritual health.
Judgment upon the wicked is not merely a temporary setback but an irreversible fall that precludes their future rise against the righteous.
Sin fundamentally corrupts the human mind's ability to process moral truth and accurately assess one's own spiritual condition.
The ungodly person eventually reaches a state where they no longer abhor evil but are volitionally committed to a sinful course of action.
Sin is inward, deceptive, speech-shaping, path-forming, and rooted in the absence of the fear of God.
The Lord is steadfast in love, faithful, righteous, just, preserving, sheltering, satisfying, life-giving, and light-giving.
The Lord preserves both people and animals, showing His sustaining care over creation.
The faithful are formed by rejecting self-flattery, knowing the Lord, seeking uprightness of heart, and taking refuge in Him.
Proud evildoers will not finally stand; they fall and cannot rise under divine justice.
The psalm’s diagnosis of no fear of God is used in Romans 3, while its life-and-light hope finds canonical fullness in Christ.
Theological exposition and fulfillment
- Psalm 36 forms worshipers who are morally awake, God-centered, refuge-seeking, and satisfied in the Lord’s life and light.
Sense an utterance or declaration, often used for a solemn pronouncement
Definition an utterance or declaration, often used for a solemn pronouncement
References Psalm 36:1
Why it matters Psalm 36 opens with a striking declaration about transgression itself speaking within the wicked, giving the psalm a diagnostic and prophetic edge.
Sense rebellion, transgression, revolt
Definition rebellion, transgression, revolt
References Psalm 36:1
Why it matters The opening problem is not merely weakness but rebellion that speaks, flatters, plots, and refuses the fear of God.
Sense wicked, guilty, morally wrong
Definition wicked, guilty, morally wrong
References Psalm 36:1
Why it matters The wicked person in verses 1-4 is characterized by God-absence, self-deception, corrupt speech, evil planning, and refusal to reject wrong.
Sense heart, inner person, seat of thought and desire
Definition heart, inner person, seat of thought and desire
References Psalm 36:1
Why it matters The psalm locates wickedness internally before describing its outward speech and conduct.
Sense fear, dread, reverent awe
Definition fear, dread, reverent awe
References Psalm 36:1
Why it matters The absence of the fear of God is the fountainhead of the wicked person’s self-flattery, deceit, and evil conduct.
Sense eye, sight, perception
Definition eye, sight, perception
References Psalm 36:1
Why it matters The wicked live with no fear of God before their eyes, showing a corrupted moral horizon and distorted perception.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense to be smooth, flatter, divide, make slippery
Definition to be smooth, flatter, divide, make slippery
References Psalm 36:2
Why it matters Self-flattery prevents the wicked from detecting and hating their own sin, making moral blindness self-protective.
Sense iniquity, guilt, perversity
Definition iniquity, guilt, perversity
References Psalm 36:2
Why it matters The wicked person’s sin is not hated because self-deception has made guilt appear tolerable or hidden.
Sense to hate, reject, oppose
Definition to hate, reject, oppose
References Psalm 36:2
Why it matters The failure to hate sin marks the collapse of moral discernment and covenant allegiance.
Sense word, matter, speech
Definition word, matter, speech
References Psalm 36:3
Why it matters The corruption of the wicked heart becomes visible through wicked and deceitful speech.
Sense deceit, treachery, fraud
Definition deceit, treachery, fraud
References Psalm 36:3
Why it matters The psalm identifies wicked speech as not merely mistaken but treacherous and morally destructive.
Sense good, beneficial, morally pleasing
Definition good, beneficial, morally pleasing
References Psalm 36:3
Why it matters The wicked have ceased to act wisely and do good, showing that practical righteousness has collapsed alongside reverence.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense evil, harm, calamity, moral wrong
Definition evil, harm, calamity, moral wrong
References Psalm 36:4
Why it matters Evil is plotted privately and then embraced publicly, demonstrating a settled course rather than a passing lapse.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense way, path, manner of life
Definition way, path, manner of life
References Psalm 36:4
Why it matters The wicked commit themselves to a sinful way, showing that ungodliness forms a path and pattern.
Sense steadfast covenant love, loyal mercy, unfailing kindness
Definition steadfast covenant love, loyal mercy, unfailing kindness
References Psalm 36:5, 7, 10
Why it matters The Lord’s love reaching to the heavens is the controlling contrast to human wickedness and the refuge of His people.
Cross-language bridge 2 links · View in lexicon
Sense faithfulness, steadiness, reliability
Definition faithfulness, steadiness, reliability
References Psalm 36:5
Why it matters God’s faithfulness reaches to the skies, grounding confidence that His covenant character is not unstable like human speech.
Sense righteousness, justice, rightness
Definition righteousness, justice, rightness
References Psalm 36:6, 10
Why it matters The Lord’s righteousness is mountain-like: vast, immovable, and morally dependable against the instability of wickedness.
Sense judgment, justice, legal decision
Definition judgment, justice, legal decision
References Psalm 36:6
Why it matters The Lord’s judgments are deep and unsearchably wise, showing that divine justice is not shallow or easily exhausted.
Sense deep, depths, primeval waters or ocean depths
Definition deep, depths, primeval waters or ocean depths
References Psalm 36:6
Why it matters The great-deep image communicates the vast depth of God’s judgments in contrast to human moral shallowness.
Sense to save, deliver, preserve
Definition to save, deliver, preserve
References Psalm 36:6
Why it matters The Lord’s preserving care extends to people and animals, grounding praise in His providential mercy over creation.
Cross-language bridge 2 links · View in lexicon
Sense humanity, man, humankind
Definition humanity, man, humankind
References Psalm 36:6
Why it matters The psalm’s praise widens beyond Israel’s immediate experience to the Lord’s care for humankind.
Sense beast, animal, livestock
Definition beast, animal, livestock
References Psalm 36:6
Why it matters The Lord’s mercy is not thin or abstract; He preserves living creatures under His providential rule.
Sense precious, valuable, costly
Definition precious, valuable, costly
References Psalm 36:7
Why it matters God’s steadfast love is not common or disposable; it is priceless shelter for those who trust Him.
Sense to seek refuge, shelter, trust for protection
Definition to seek refuge, shelter, trust for protection
References Psalm 36:7
Why it matters The response to God’s precious love is refuge, not self-salvation or denial of danger.
Sense shadow, shade, protective covering
Definition shadow, shade, protective covering
References Psalm 36:7
Why it matters The shadow imagery portrays God’s covenant care as shelter from exposure and threat.
Sense wing, edge, covering
Definition wing, edge, covering
References Psalm 36:7
Why it matters Taking refuge under God’s wings evokes protective nearness, covenant shelter, and worshipful dependence.
Sense fatness, abundance, richness
Definition fatness, abundance, richness
References Psalm 36:8
Why it matters The Lord’s house supplies more than survival; it provides satisfying abundance for those sheltered by Him.
Sense house, household, dwelling
Definition house, household, dwelling
References Psalm 36:8
Why it matters The abundance of the Lord’s house places refuge and satisfaction in the sphere of His presence and worship.
Cross-language bridge 4 links · View in lexicon
Sense stream, river, wadi
Definition stream, river, wadi
References Psalm 36:8
Why it matters The river of delights portrays God’s life-giving provision as flowing, satisfying, and graciously given.
Sense delight, pleasure, Eden-like joy
Definition delight, pleasure, Eden-like joy
References Psalm 36:8
Why it matters The term links divine satisfaction with Eden-like fullness, making worship a foretaste of restored joy in God.
Sense fountain, spring, source
Definition fountain, spring, source
References Psalm 36:9
Why it matters The Lord Himself is the source of life; the psalm does not locate life in human power, appetite, or achievement.
Sense life, living vitality
Definition life, living vitality
References Psalm 36:9
Why it matters Life flows from God as fountain, making fellowship with Him the answer to the deathward path of wickedness.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense light, illumination, life-giving brightness
Definition light, illumination, life-giving brightness
References Psalm 36:9
Why it matters Seeing light in God’s light links revelation, life, moral clarity, and joy in the Lord’s presence.
Sense to know relationally, perceive, acknowledge
Definition to know relationally, perceive, acknowledge
References Psalm 36:10
Why it matters Those who know the Lord are the covenant recipients for whom David asks continued steadfast love.
Sense upright, straight, right
Definition upright, straight, right
References Psalm 36:10
Why it matters The prayer for righteousness to continue to the upright marks the true people of God by heart-alignment, not mere outward association.
Cross-language bridge 1 link · View in lexicon
Sense foot, step, movement
Definition foot, step, movement
References Psalm 36:11
Why it matters David asks that the foot of the proud not overtake Him, turning bodily imagery into a prayer against oppressive domination.
Sense pride, arrogance, haughtiness
Definition pride, arrogance, haughtiness
References Psalm 36:11
Why it matters Pride appears as the social form of the wickedness diagnosed in verses 1-4: self-exaltation without fear of God.
Sense hand, power, agency
Definition hand, power, agency
References Psalm 36:11
Why it matters The hand of the wicked represents coercive power that David asks the Lord to restrain.
Sense trouble, wickedness, iniquity, evil
Definition trouble, wickedness, iniquity, evil
References Psalm 36:12
Why it matters The final scene shows evildoers fallen and unable to rise, confirming that the path of rebellion collapses under divine justice.
Sense to fall, collapse, be cast down
Definition to fall, collapse, be cast down
References Psalm 36:12
Why it matters The closing vision answers the opening diagnosis: those who refuse the fear of God are finally unable to stand.
Sense to arise, stand, be established
Definition to arise, stand, be established
References Psalm 36:12
Why it matters The inability of evildoers to rise contrasts with the security of those who take refuge in the Lord.
Lexicon data: MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML (CC0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0) · Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon (CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible Data (CC BY 4.0) · Full details
C.F. Keil & F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–91) — public domain
Psalm 36 forms worshipers who are morally awake, God-centered, refuge-seeking, and satisfied in the Lord’s life and light.
- Practice daily examination against self-flattery
- Set the fear of God before the eyes through Scripture and prayer
- Rehearse the Lord’s steadfast love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice
- Pray for continued covenant love for those who know the Lord
- Seek satisfaction in God’s presence rather than sinful delight
- Entrust the downfall of evildoers to divine justice
- Psalm 36 is only a general nature hymn about God’s love. - The praise of God’s love is framed by a severe diagnosis of wickedness and a final prayer against proud evildoers.
- The wicked in verses 1-4 are only extreme outsiders. - The psalm diagnoses patterns of self-flattery, deceit, and refusal to reject wrong that Scripture uses to expose the human heart more broadly.
- God’s love in verses 5-10 means judgment is not serious. - The same psalm praises God’s love and righteousness while ending with evildoers fallen and unable to rise.
- Taking refuge under God’s wings means escape from all present trouble. - The psalm presents refuge as covenant shelter and satisfaction in God, not as a promise that proud opposition is absent.
- The life and light language should be detached from Psalm 36’s original worship context. - The canonical trajectory to Christ should preserve the psalm’s immediate claim that the Lord Himself is the source of life and light.
- Where am I most tempted to flatter myself instead of detecting and hating my sin?
- What would change in my speech, private thoughts, and decisions if the fear of God were truly before my eyes?
- Do I treat God’s steadfast love as precious, or merely as a religious assumption?
- Where am I seeking refuge apart from the shadow of the Lord’s wings?
- What does it look like for me to feast on the abundance of God’s house rather than the cravings of sin?
- How does Psalm 36:9 reshape my understanding of life, light, guidance, and satisfaction?
- Who needs me to pray Psalm 36:10 over them, asking God to continue His love and righteousness?
- Where do I need confidence that proud wickedness will not finally stand?
- Preach the chapter as a contrast between the wicked heart and the faithful God, refusing to offer comfort from verses 5-9 without first letting verses 1-4 expose self-flattering sin.
- Use the psalm to help counselees distinguish honest conviction from self-protective flattery, especially where speech, secrecy, or premeditated sin have become patterns.
- Shape prayers and songs around the chapter’s movement: confession of human darkness, praise of God’s vast love, refuge under His wings, and longing for life and light.
- Train believers to ask not only whether an action is wrong but whether the fear of God is presently governing perception, speech, and desire.
- Warn leaders against the bed of verse 4: private planning of evil eventually shapes public paths. Integrity begins before God in the unseen place.
- Encourage those under proud opposition that God’s love continues, His righteousness stands, and evildoers will not finally rise.
The chapter helps expose where sin has become smooth, excused, or normalized.
The lack of fear in verse 1 becomes the negative mirror for the disciple’s restored reverence.
The abundance, river, fountain, and light imagery trains believers to seek fullness in God rather than in sin.
The closing picture of fallen evildoers gives sober assurance that proud wickedness is temporary.
Track judgment as covenant accountability, divine justice, and eschatological reckoning.
Trace how divine glory, revealed majesty, and Christ-centered exaltation move across Scripture.
Study holiness as divine character, covenant identity, and sanctified life across Scripture.
Trace remnant preservation, covenant continuity, and mercy under judgment across Scripture.
Study temple presence, worship, corruption, judgment, and renewal across Scripture.
The Biblical World
Chapter At A Glance
Wickedness speaks within the heart -> no fear of God governs the eyes -> self-flattery hides sin -> deceitful speech and evil plotting form a settled way -> the Lord's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice are praised as immeasurable -> His people take refuge under His wings and are satisfied in His house -> life and light flow from Him -> David prays for continued covenant love and protection -> evildoers are seen fallen and unable to rise
Psalm 36 frames covenant life around knowing the Lord, receiving His continuing steadfast love and righteousness, and taking refuge under His wings. The wicked are not merely outside a moral code; they are outside the fear of God, while the upright in heart depend on the Lord's covenant character for protection, satisfaction, and endurance.
Psalm 36 clarifies the gospel problem and the gospel hope. The problem is not merely that people make bad choices; sin speaks within, the fear of God is absent, and self-flattery hides guilt. The hope is that the Lord’s steadfast love, righteousness, life, and light are greater than the darkness of human rebellion. In the wider canon, the same diagnosis drives sinners to the righteousness of God revealed in Christ, where life and light are given by grace.
Focus Points
- Fear of God
- Human depravity and self-deception
- Steadfast love and faithfulness
- Righteousness and justice
- Divine refuge and satisfaction
- Final collapse of evil
- Doctrine of sin
- Doctrine of God
- Providence
- Sanctification
- Judgment
- Gospel diagnosis and hope
Biblical Theology
- Truth Versus Deception Trace the truth versus deception theme from covenant warnings against false word to apostolic discernment that guards the church from lies about Christ. Trace thread →
- Covenant Love and Obedience Trace the covenant love and obedience theme from God's commanded covenant fidelity to the new-covenant life of walking in truth, love, and obedience through Christ. Trace thread →
- Divine Presence Trace the divine presence thread from covenant nearness and holy manifestation to God's abiding presence with His people through Christ. Trace thread →
- Word and Revelation Trace the word and revelation thread from God's speaking and self-disclosure to the climactic revelation fulfilled in Christ and proclaimed through Scripture. Trace thread →
- People of God Trace the people of God thread from covenant calling and gathered identity to the redeemed community united in Christ and gathered for God's name. Trace thread →
- Gospel and Repentance and Faith The gospel calls sinners not merely to admire Jesus Christ or agree with Christian ideas, but to repent and believe. Repentance and faith are the fitting human response to the saving announcement of Christ crucified and risen, and they belong together as grace-enabled turning from sin and turning to God in Christ. The gospel is not complete in ministry if it is explained without this summons. Where the gospel is central, repentance and faith are preached clearly, pastorally, and urgently as the necessary response to the lordship and saving work of Jesus.
- Gospel and Sanctification Sanctification describes the ongoing work of God by which those justified through the gospel are progressively transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. The same gospel that forgives and justifies also renews and reshapes the believer’s life through union with Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. Sanctification is therefore not a separate spiritual project but the fruit of the cross and resurrection applied to daily life. Where the gospel remains central, holiness is pursued not as self-improvement but as participation in the new life secured by Christ.
- Gospel and Assurance The gospel and assurance belong together because the same Christ who saves sinners also gives them a solid basis for confidence before God through His finished work, present intercession, and unfailing promises. Assurance is not self-confidence, presumption, or denial of spiritual struggle, but a gospel-grounded confidence that rests in Jesus Christ and is strengthened by the Spirit, the Word, and the evidences of grace. The believer's peace does not arise from personal perfection, but from union with the crucified and risen Lord. Where the gospel is central, assurance is neither ignored nor artificially manufactured, but nurtured through truth, repentance, faith, and persevering dependence upon Christ.
Passages
Chapter opening: Psalms 36:1-4
Psa 36:5-9 (Hebrew_Bible_36:6-10) The poet now turns from this repulsive prospect to one that is more pleasing. He contemplates, and praises, the infinite, ever sure mercy of God, and the salvation, happiness, and light which spring from it. Instead of בּשּׁמים, the expression is בּהשּׁמים, the syncope of the article not taking place. בּ alternating with עד, cf.
Psa 57:11, has here, as in Psa 19:5; Psa 72:16, the sense of touching or reaching to the spot that is denoted in connection with it. The poet describes the exaltation and super-eminence of divine mercy and faithfulness figuratively, after earthly standards. They reveal themselves on earth in a height that reaches to the heavens and extends to שׁחקים, i. e. , the thin veil of vapour which spreads itself like a veil over the depths of the heavens; they transcend all human thought, desire, and comprehension (Psa 103:11, and cf.
Eph 3:18). The צדקה (righteousness) is distinguished from the אמונה (faithfulness) thus: the latter is governed by the promises of God, the former by His holiness; and further, the latter has its being in the love of God, the former, on the other hand, manifests itself partly as justifying in mercies, and partly as avenging in wrath. Concerning the righteousness, the poet says that it is like the mountains of God, i.
e. , (cf. cedars of God, Psa 80:11) unchangeably firm (Psa 111:3), like the giant primeval mountains which bear witness to the greatness and glory of God; concerning God’s judgments, that they are “a great deep,” incomprehensible and unsearchable (ἀνεξερεύνηται, Rom 11:33) as the great, deep-surging mass of waters in the lower parts of the earth, which becomes visible in the seas and in the rivers.
God’s punitive righteousness, as at length becomes evident, has His compassion for its reverse side; and this, as in the case of the Flood (cf. Jon 4:11), embraces the animal world, which is most closely involved, whether for weal or for woe, with man, as well as mankind. Lost in this depth, which is so worthy of adoration, the Psalmist exclaims: How precious (cf.
Psa 139:17) is Thy mercy, Elohim! i. e. , how valuable beyond all treasures, and how precious to him who knows how to prize it! The Waw of וּבני is the explicative Waw = et hoc ipsum quod . The energetic form of the future, יחסיוּן, has the pre-tonic Kametz, here in pause, as in Psa 36:8; Psa 39:7; Psa 78:44. The shadow of God’s wings is the protection of His love, which hides against temptation and persecution.
To be thus hidden in God is the most unspeakable blessedness, Psa 36:9 : they satiate themselves, they drink full draughts of “the fatness of Thy house. ” The house of God is His sanctuary, and in general the domain of His mercy and grace. דּשׁן (cf. טוּב, Psa 65:5) is the expression for the abundant, pleasant, and powerful gifts and goods and recreations with which God entertains those who are His; and רוה (whence ירוין, as in Deu 8:13; Isa 40:18) is the spiritual joy of the soul that experiences God’s mercy to overflowing.
The abundant fare of the priests from Jahve’s table (vid. , Jer 31:14), and the festive joy of the guests at the shelamim-offering, i. e. , the communion-offering, - these outward rites are here treated according to their spiritual significance, receive the depth of meaning which radically belongs to them, and are ideally generalized. It is a stream of pleasures (עדנים) with which He irrigates and fertilizes them, a paradisaic river of delights.
This, as the four arms of the river of Paradise had one common source (Gen 2:10), has its spring in God, yea, God is the fountain itself. He is “the fountain of life” (Jer 2:13); all life flows forth from Him, who is the absolutely existing and happy One. The more inwardly, therefore, one is joined to Him, the fuller are the draughts of life which he drinks from this first fountain of all life.
And as God is the fountain of life, so also is He the fountain of light: “In Thy light do we see light;” out of God, seeing we see only darkness, whereas immersed in God’s sea of light we are illumined by divine knowledge, and lighted up with spiritual joy. The poet, after having taken a few glimpses into the chaos of evil, here moves in the blessed depths of holy mysticism [ Mystik , i.
e. , mysticism in the good sense - true religion, vital godliness], and in proportion as in the former case his language is obscure. So here it is clear as crystal.
Psa 36:5-9 (Hebrew_Bible_36:6-10) The poet now turns from this repulsive prospect to one that is more pleasing. He contemplates, and praises, the infinite, ever sure mercy of God, and the salvation, happiness, and light which spring from it. Instead of בּשּׁמים, the expression is בּהשּׁמים, the syncope of the article not taking place. בּ alternating with עד, cf.
Psa 57:11, has here, as in Psa 19:5; Psa 72:16, the sense of touching or reaching to the spot that is denoted in connection with it. The poet describes the exaltation and super-eminence of divine mercy and faithfulness figuratively, after earthly standards. They reveal themselves on earth in a height that reaches to the heavens and extends to שׁחקים, i. e. , the thin veil of vapour which spreads itself like a veil over the depths of the heavens; they transcend all human thought, desire, and comprehension (Psa 103:11, and cf.
Eph 3:18). The צדקה (righteousness) is distinguished from the אמונה (faithfulness) thus: the latter is governed by the promises of God, the former by His holiness; and further, the latter has its being in the love of God, the former, on the other hand, manifests itself partly as justifying in mercies, and partly as avenging in wrath. Concerning the righteousness, the poet says that it is like the mountains of God, i.
e. , (cf. cedars of God, Psa 80:11) unchangeably firm (Psa 111:3), like the giant primeval mountains which bear witness to the greatness and glory of God; concerning God’s judgments, that they are “a great deep,” incomprehensible and unsearchable (ἀνεξερεύνηται, Rom 11:33) as the great, deep-surging mass of waters in the lower parts of the earth, which becomes visible in the seas and in the rivers.
God’s punitive righteousness, as at length becomes evident, has His compassion for its reverse side; and this, as in the case of the Flood (cf. Jon 4:11), embraces the animal world, which is most closely involved, whether for weal or for woe, with man, as well as mankind. Lost in this depth, which is so worthy of adoration, the Psalmist exclaims: How precious (cf.
Psa 139:17) is Thy mercy, Elohim! i. e. , how valuable beyond all treasures, and how precious to him who knows how to prize it! The Waw of וּבני is the explicative Waw = et hoc ipsum quod . The energetic form of the future, יחסיוּן, has the pre-tonic Kametz, here in pause, as in Psa 36:8; Psa 39:7; Psa 78:44. The shadow of God’s wings is the protection of His love, which hides against temptation and persecution.
To be thus hidden in God is the most unspeakable blessedness, Psa 36:9 : they satiate themselves, they drink full draughts of “the fatness of Thy house. ” The house of God is His sanctuary, and in general the domain of His mercy and grace. דּשׁן (cf. טוּב, Psa 65:5) is the expression for the abundant, pleasant, and powerful gifts and goods and recreations with which God entertains those who are His; and רוה (whence ירוין, as in Deu 8:13; Isa 40:18) is the spiritual joy of the soul that experiences God’s mercy to overflowing.
The abundant fare of the priests from Jahve’s table (vid. , Jer 31:14), and the festive joy of the guests at the shelamim-offering, i. e. , the communion-offering, - these outward rites are here treated according to their spiritual significance, receive the depth of meaning which radically belongs to them, and are ideally generalized. It is a stream of pleasures (עדנים) with which He irrigates and fertilizes them, a paradisaic river of delights.
This, as the four arms of the river of Paradise had one common source (Gen 2:10), has its spring in God, yea, God is the fountain itself. He is “the fountain of life” (Jer 2:13); all life flows forth from Him, who is the absolutely existing and happy One. The more inwardly, therefore, one is joined to Him, the fuller are the draughts of life which he drinks from this first fountain of all life.
And as God is the fountain of life, so also is He the fountain of light: “In Thy light do we see light;” out of God, seeing we see only darkness, whereas immersed in God’s sea of light we are illumined by divine knowledge, and lighted up with spiritual joy. The poet, after having taken a few glimpses into the chaos of evil, here moves in the blessed depths of holy mysticism [ Mystik , i.
e. , mysticism in the good sense - true religion, vital godliness], and in proportion as in the former case his language is obscure. So here it is clear as crystal.
Psa 36:5-9 (Hebrew_Bible_36:6-10) The poet now turns from this repulsive prospect to one that is more pleasing. He contemplates, and praises, the infinite, ever sure mercy of God, and the salvation, happiness, and light which spring from it. Instead of בּשּׁמים, the expression is בּהשּׁמים, the syncope of the article not taking place. בּ alternating with עד, cf.
Psa 57:11, has here, as in Psa 19:5; Psa 72:16, the sense of touching or reaching to the spot that is denoted in connection with it. The poet describes the exaltation and super-eminence of divine mercy and faithfulness figuratively, after earthly standards. They reveal themselves on earth in a height that reaches to the heavens and extends to שׁחקים, i. e. , the thin veil of vapour which spreads itself like a veil over the depths of the heavens; they transcend all human thought, desire, and comprehension (Psa 103:11, and cf.
Eph 3:18). The צדקה (righteousness) is distinguished from the אמונה (faithfulness) thus: the latter is governed by the promises of God, the former by His holiness; and further, the latter has its being in the love of God, the former, on the other hand, manifests itself partly as justifying in mercies, and partly as avenging in wrath. Concerning the righteousness, the poet says that it is like the mountains of God, i.
e. , (cf. cedars of God, Psa 80:11) unchangeably firm (Psa 111:3), like the giant primeval mountains which bear witness to the greatness and glory of God; concerning God’s judgments, that they are “a great deep,” incomprehensible and unsearchable (ἀνεξερεύνηται, Rom 11:33) as the great, deep-surging mass of waters in the lower parts of the earth, which becomes visible in the seas and in the rivers.
God’s punitive righteousness, as at length becomes evident, has His compassion for its reverse side; and this, as in the case of the Flood (cf. Jon 4:11), embraces the animal world, which is most closely involved, whether for weal or for woe, with man, as well as mankind. Lost in this depth, which is so worthy of adoration, the Psalmist exclaims: How precious (cf.
Psa 139:17) is Thy mercy, Elohim! i. e. , how valuable beyond all treasures, and how precious to him who knows how to prize it! The Waw of וּבני is the explicative Waw = et hoc ipsum quod . The energetic form of the future, יחסיוּן, has the pre-tonic Kametz, here in pause, as in Psa 36:8; Psa 39:7; Psa 78:44. The shadow of God’s wings is the protection of His love, which hides against temptation and persecution.
To be thus hidden in God is the most unspeakable blessedness, Psa 36:9 : they satiate themselves, they drink full draughts of “the fatness of Thy house. ” The house of God is His sanctuary, and in general the domain of His mercy and grace. דּשׁן (cf. טוּב, Psa 65:5) is the expression for the abundant, pleasant, and powerful gifts and goods and recreations with which God entertains those who are His; and רוה (whence ירוין, as in Deu 8:13; Isa 40:18) is the spiritual joy of the soul that experiences God’s mercy to overflowing.
The abundant fare of the priests from Jahve’s table (vid. , Jer 31:14), and the festive joy of the guests at the shelamim-offering, i. e. , the communion-offering, - these outward rites are here treated according to their spiritual significance, receive the depth of meaning which radically belongs to them, and are ideally generalized. It is a stream of pleasures (עדנים) with which He irrigates and fertilizes them, a paradisaic river of delights.
This, as the four arms of the river of Paradise had one common source (Gen 2:10), has its spring in God, yea, God is the fountain itself. He is “the fountain of life” (Jer 2:13); all life flows forth from Him, who is the absolutely existing and happy One. The more inwardly, therefore, one is joined to Him, the fuller are the draughts of life which he drinks from this first fountain of all life.
And as God is the fountain of life, so also is He the fountain of light: “In Thy light do we see light;” out of God, seeing we see only darkness, whereas immersed in God’s sea of light we are illumined by divine knowledge, and lighted up with spiritual joy. The poet, after having taken a few glimpses into the chaos of evil, here moves in the blessed depths of holy mysticism [ Mystik , i.
e. , mysticism in the good sense - true religion, vital godliness], and in proportion as in the former case his language is obscure. So here it is clear as crystal.
Psa 36:5-9 (Hebrew_Bible_36:6-10) The poet now turns from this repulsive prospect to one that is more pleasing. He contemplates, and praises, the infinite, ever sure mercy of God, and the salvation, happiness, and light which spring from it. Instead of בּשּׁמים, the expression is בּהשּׁמים, the syncope of the article not taking place. בּ alternating with עד, cf.
Psa 57:11, has here, as in Psa 19:5; Psa 72:16, the sense of touching or reaching to the spot that is denoted in connection with it. The poet describes the exaltation and super-eminence of divine mercy and faithfulness figuratively, after earthly standards. They reveal themselves on earth in a height that reaches to the heavens and extends to שׁחקים, i. e. , the thin veil of vapour which spreads itself like a veil over the depths of the heavens; they transcend all human thought, desire, and comprehension (Psa 103:11, and cf.
Eph 3:18). The צדקה (righteousness) is distinguished from the אמונה (faithfulness) thus: the latter is governed by the promises of God, the former by His holiness; and further, the latter has its being in the love of God, the former, on the other hand, manifests itself partly as justifying in mercies, and partly as avenging in wrath. Concerning the righteousness, the poet says that it is like the mountains of God, i.
e. , (cf. cedars of God, Psa 80:11) unchangeably firm (Psa 111:3), like the giant primeval mountains which bear witness to the greatness and glory of God; concerning God’s judgments, that they are “a great deep,” incomprehensible and unsearchable (ἀνεξερεύνηται, Rom 11:33) as the great, deep-surging mass of waters in the lower parts of the earth, which becomes visible in the seas and in the rivers.
God’s punitive righteousness, as at length becomes evident, has His compassion for its reverse side; and this, as in the case of the Flood (cf. Jon 4:11), embraces the animal world, which is most closely involved, whether for weal or for woe, with man, as well as mankind. Lost in this depth, which is so worthy of adoration, the Psalmist exclaims: How precious (cf.
Psa 139:17) is Thy mercy, Elohim! i. e. , how valuable beyond all treasures, and how precious to him who knows how to prize it! The Waw of וּבני is the explicative Waw = et hoc ipsum quod . The energetic form of the future, יחסיוּן, has the pre-tonic Kametz, here in pause, as in Psa 36:8; Psa 39:7; Psa 78:44. The shadow of God’s wings is the protection of His love, which hides against temptation and persecution.
To be thus hidden in God is the most unspeakable blessedness, Psa 36:9 : they satiate themselves, they drink full draughts of “the fatness of Thy house. ” The house of God is His sanctuary, and in general the domain of His mercy and grace. דּשׁן (cf. טוּב, Psa 65:5) is the expression for the abundant, pleasant, and powerful gifts and goods and recreations with which God entertains those who are His; and רוה (whence ירוין, as in Deu 8:13; Isa 40:18) is the spiritual joy of the soul that experiences God’s mercy to overflowing.
The abundant fare of the priests from Jahve’s table (vid. , Jer 31:14), and the festive joy of the guests at the shelamim-offering, i. e. , the communion-offering, - these outward rites are here treated according to their spiritual significance, receive the depth of meaning which radically belongs to them, and are ideally generalized. It is a stream of pleasures (עדנים) with which He irrigates and fertilizes them, a paradisaic river of delights.
This, as the four arms of the river of Paradise had one common source (Gen 2:10), has its spring in God, yea, God is the fountain itself. He is “the fountain of life” (Jer 2:13); all life flows forth from Him, who is the absolutely existing and happy One. The more inwardly, therefore, one is joined to Him, the fuller are the draughts of life which he drinks from this first fountain of all life.
And as God is the fountain of life, so also is He the fountain of light: “In Thy light do we see light;” out of God, seeing we see only darkness, whereas immersed in God’s sea of light we are illumined by divine knowledge, and lighted up with spiritual joy. The poet, after having taken a few glimpses into the chaos of evil, here moves in the blessed depths of holy mysticism [ Mystik , i.
e. , mysticism in the good sense - true religion, vital godliness], and in proportion as in the former case his language is obscure. So here it is clear as crystal.
Psa 36:10-12 (Hebrew_Bible_36:11-13) Now for the first time, in the concluding hexastich, after complaint and commendation comes the language of prayer. The poet prays that God would lengthen out, i. e. , henceforth preserve (משׁך, as in Psa 109:12), such mercy to His saints; that the foot of arrogance, which is conceived of as a tyrant, may not come suddenly upon him (בּוא, as in Psa 35:8), and that the hand of the wicked may not drive him from his home into exile (cf.
Psa 10:18). With חסד alternates צדקה, which, on its merciful side, is turned towards them that now God, and bestows upon them the promised gracious reward. Whilst the Psalmist is thus praying, the future all at once becomes unveiled to him. Certain in his own mind that his prayer will be heard, he sees the adversaries of God and of His saints for ever overthrown.
שׁם, as in Psa 14:5, points to the place where the judgment is executed. The preterites are prophetic, as in Psa 14:5; Psa 64:8-10. The poet, like Isaiah (Isa 26:14), beholds the whole tribe of the oppressors of Jahve’s Church changed into a field of corpses, without hope of any rising again.
Psa 36:10-12 (Hebrew_Bible_36:11-13) Now for the first time, in the concluding hexastich, after complaint and commendation comes the language of prayer. The poet prays that God would lengthen out, i. e. , henceforth preserve (משׁך, as in Psa 109:12), such mercy to His saints; that the foot of arrogance, which is conceived of as a tyrant, may not come suddenly upon him (בּוא, as in Psa 35:8), and that the hand of the wicked may not drive him from his home into exile (cf.
Psa 10:18). With חסד alternates צדקה, which, on its merciful side, is turned towards them that now God, and bestows upon them the promised gracious reward. Whilst the Psalmist is thus praying, the future all at once becomes unveiled to him. Certain in his own mind that his prayer will be heard, he sees the adversaries of God and of His saints for ever overthrown.
שׁם, as in Psa 14:5, points to the place where the judgment is executed. The preterites are prophetic, as in Psa 14:5; Psa 64:8-10. The poet, like Isaiah (Isa 26:14), beholds the whole tribe of the oppressors of Jahve’s Church changed into a field of corpses, without hope of any rising again.
Psa 36:10-12 (Hebrew_Bible_36:11-13) Now for the first time, in the concluding hexastich, after complaint and commendation comes the language of prayer. The poet prays that God would lengthen out, i. e. , henceforth preserve (משׁך, as in Psa 109:12), such mercy to His saints; that the foot of arrogance, which is conceived of as a tyrant, may not come suddenly upon him (בּוא, as in Psa 35:8), and that the hand of the wicked may not drive him from his home into exile (cf.
Psa 10:18). With חסד alternates צדקה, which, on its merciful side, is turned towards them that now God, and bestows upon them the promised gracious reward. Whilst the Psalmist is thus praying, the future all at once becomes unveiled to him. Certain in his own mind that his prayer will be heard, he sees the adversaries of God and of His saints for ever overthrown.
שׁם, as in Psa 14:5, points to the place where the judgment is executed. The preterites are prophetic, as in Psa 14:5; Psa 64:8-10. The poet, like Isaiah (Isa 26:14), beholds the whole tribe of the oppressors of Jahve’s Church changed into a field of corpses, without hope of any rising again.
The bond of connection between Psa 36:1-12 and 37 is their similarity of contents, which here and there extends even to accords of expression. The fundamental thought running through the whole Psalm is at once expressed in the opening verses: Do not let the prosperity of the ungodly be a source of vexation to thee, but wait on the Lord; for the prosperity of the ungodly will suddenly come to an end, and the issue determines between the righteous and the unrighteous.
Hence Tertullian calls this Psalm providentiae speculum ; Isodore, potio contra murmur ; and Luther, vestis piorum, cui adscriptum: Hic Sanctorum patientia est (Rev 14:12). This fundamental thought the poet does not expand in strophes of ordinary compass, but in shorter utterances of the proverbial form following the order of the letters of the alphabet, and not without some repetitions and recurrences to a previous thought, in order to impress it still more convincingly and deeply upon the mind.
The Psalm belongs therefore to the series Ps 9 and Psa 10:1, Psa 25:1, Psa 34:1, - all alphabetical Psalms of David, of whose language, cheering, high-flown, thoughtful, and at the same time so easy and unartificial, and withal elegant, this Psalm is fully worthy. The structure of the proverbial utterances is almost entirely tetrastichic; though ד, כ, and ק are tristichs, and ח (which is twice represented, though perhaps unintentionally), נ, and ת are pentastichs.
The ע is apparently wanting; but, on closer inspection, the originally separated strophes ס and ע are only run into one another by the division of the verses. The ע strophe begins with לעולם, Psa 37:28 , and forms a tetrastich, just like the ס. The fact that the preposition ל stands before the letter next in order need not confuse one. The ת, Psa 37:39, also begins with ותשׁועת.
The homogeneous beginnings, זמם רשׁע, לוה רשׁע, צופה רשׁע, Psa 37:12, Psa 37:21, Psa 37:32, seem, as Hitzig remarks, to be designed to give prominence to the pauses in the succession of the proverbial utterances.
Psa 37:1-2 Olshausen observes, “The poet keeps entirely to the standpoint of the old Hebrew doctrine of recompense, which the Book of Job so powerfully refutes. ” But, viewed in the light of the final issue, all God’s government is really in a word righteous recompense; and the Old Testament theodicy is only inadequate in so far as the future, which adjusts all present inconsistencies, is still veiled.
Meanwhile the punitive justice of God does make itself manifest, as a rule, in the case of the ungodly even in the present world; even their dying is usually a fearful end to their life’s prosperity. This it is which the poet means here, and which is also expressed by Job himself in the Book of Job, Job 27:1. With התחרה, to grow hot or angry (distinct from תּחרה, to emulate, Jer 12:5; Jer 22:15), alternates קנּא, to get into a glow, excandescentia , whether it be the restrained heat of sullen envy, or the incontrollable heat of impetuous zeal which would gladly call down fire from heaven.
This first distich has been transferred to the Book of Proverbs, Pro 24:19, cf. Pro 23:17; Pro 24:1; Pro 3:31; and in general we may remark that this Psalm is one of the Davidic patterns for the Salomonic gnome system. The form ימּלוּ is, according to Gesenius, Olshausen, and Hitzig, fut. Kal of מלל, cognate אמל, they wither away, pausal form for ימּלוּ like יתּממוּ, Psa 102:28; but the signification to cut off also is secured to the verb מלל by the Niph .
נמל, Gen 17:11, whence fut . ימּלוּ = ימּלּוּ; vid. , on Job 14:2; Job 18:16. ירק דּשׁא is a genitival combination: the green ( viror ) of young vigorous vegetation.
Psa 37:3-4 The “land” is throughout this Psalm the promised possession ( Heilsgut ), viz. , the land of Jahve’s presence, which has not merely a glorious past, but also a future rich in promises; and will finally, ore perfectly than under Joshua, become the inheritance of the true Israel. It is therefore to be explained: enjoy the quiet sure habitation which God gives thee, and diligently cultivate the virtue of faithfulness.
The two imperatives in Psa 37:3 , since there are two of them (cf. Psa 37:27) and the first is without any conjunctive Waw , have the appearance of being continued admonitions, not promises; and consequently אמוּנה is not an adverbial accusative as in Psa 119:75 (Ewald), but the object to רעה, to pasture, to pursue, to practise (Syriac רדף, Hos 12:2); cf. רעה, רע, one who interests himself in any one, or anything; Beduin râ‛â = ṣâḥb , of every kind of closer relationship ( Deutsch.
Morgenländ. Zeitschr. v. 9). In Psa 37:4, ויתן is an apodosis: delight in Jahve (cf. Job 22:26; Psa 27:10; Isa 58:14), so will He grant thee the desire (משׁאלת, as in Psa 20:5) of thy heart; for he who, entirely severed from the creature, finds his highest delight in God, cannot desire anything that is at enmity with God, but he also can desire nothing that God, with whose will his own is thoroughly blended in love, would refuse him.
Psa 37:3-4 The “land” is throughout this Psalm the promised possession ( Heilsgut ), viz. , the land of Jahve’s presence, which has not merely a glorious past, but also a future rich in promises; and will finally, ore perfectly than under Joshua, become the inheritance of the true Israel. It is therefore to be explained: enjoy the quiet sure habitation which God gives thee, and diligently cultivate the virtue of faithfulness.
The two imperatives in Psa 37:3 , since there are two of them (cf. Psa 37:27) and the first is without any conjunctive Waw , have the appearance of being continued admonitions, not promises; and consequently אמוּנה is not an adverbial accusative as in Psa 119:75 (Ewald), but the object to רעה, to pasture, to pursue, to practise (Syriac רדף, Hos 12:2); cf. רעה, רע, one who interests himself in any one, or anything; Beduin râ‛â = ṣâḥb , of every kind of closer relationship ( Deutsch.
Morgenländ. Zeitschr. v. 9). In Psa 37:4, ויתן is an apodosis: delight in Jahve (cf. Job 22:26; Psa 27:10; Isa 58:14), so will He grant thee the desire (משׁאלת, as in Psa 20:5) of thy heart; for he who, entirely severed from the creature, finds his highest delight in God, cannot desire anything that is at enmity with God, but he also can desire nothing that God, with whose will his own is thoroughly blended in love, would refuse him.