My Journal and Diary
2022
January
Saturday, January 15th, 2022
In Charge
Psalm 36 presents a contrast between a wicked person and an upright person. David gives us a compelling portrayal of someone lying on their bed, thinking of ways to do harm. The entire description is vivid! For example, verse 2:
For they flatter themselves in their own eyes,
that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
We usually think of flattery as coming from another person, but as David has noted, we each have a keen ability to tell ourselves that we are better than we actually are.
We live in a time of disdain toward those who are religious. Perhaps there is a God, perhaps not, they say. If God exists, people say, then He doesn't concern himself with the ways of humanity. How can anything even be a sin, if there is no lawgiver? Who cares? Isn't it all up to us? Don't we make our own destiny? Aren't we ultimately in charge?
We've taken God off of the throne, and put ourselves there. We lower our estimation of God, and we raise our estimation of ourselves.
This Psalm isn't all negative, however. Actually, the last half describes the upright person, who is made so because of God's character! The hinge between selfishness and righteousness turns upon God's steadfast love!
That is worth some serious reflection. Note how it says that “ALL” people may take refuge in the shadow of His wings. Taking refuge in God gives us access to the abundance of His house, the thirst-quenching river of His delights, the fountain of life, and the revealing light of His light.
All of these blessings are available to those who put God on the throne!
Amen