Psalm 36
Psa 36:1-12. On servant of the Lord, see on Psa 18:1, title. The wickedness of man contrasted with the excellency of God's perfections and dispensations; and the benefit of the latter sought, and the evils of the former deprecated
1. The general sense of this difficult verse is, "that the wicked have no fear of God." The first clause may be rendered, "Saith transgression in my heart, in respect to the wicked, there is no fear," &c., that is, such is my reflection on men's transgressions.
2-4. This reflection detailed.
until his iniquity--literally, "for finding his iniquity for hating"; that is, he persuades himself God will not so find it--"for hating" involving the idea of punishing. Hence his words of iniquity and deceit, and his bold rejection of all right principles of conduct. The climax is that he deliberately adopts and patronizes evil. The negative forms affirm more emphatically their contraries.
5-6. mercy ... and ... faithfulness--as mercy and truth ([Psa 25:10]).
7. shadow of thy wings--(Compare [De 32:11]; [Psa 91:1]).
8. fatness--richness.
thy house--residence--for the privileges and blessings of communion with God ([Psa 23:6]; ).
river of thy pleasures--plenteous supply; may allude to Eden.
9. Light is an emblem of all blessings, given of God as a means to gain more.
10. that know thee--right knowledge of God is the source of right affections and conduct.
11. foot of ... hand ... wicked--all kinds of violent dealing.
12. There--in the acting of violence, they are overthrown. A signal defeat.
Psalm 37
Psa 37:1-40. A composed and uniform trust in God and a constant course of integrity are urged in view of the blessedness of the truly pious, contrasted in various aspects with the final ruin of the wicked. Thus the wisdom and justice of God's providence are vindicated, and its seeming inequalities, which excite the cavils of the wicked and the distrust of the pious, are explained. David's personal history abundantly illustrates the Psalm
1-2. The general sentiment of the whole Psalm is expressed. The righteous need not be vexed by the prosperity of the wicked; for it is transient, and their destiny undesirable.
3. Trust--sure of safety.
shalt thou dwell--or, "dwell thou"; repose quietly.
verily ... fed--or, "feed on truth," God's promise ([Psa 36:5]; compare [Ho 12:1]).
4. desires--([Psa 20:5]; ), what is lawful and right, really good ([Psa 84:11]).
5. Commit thy way--([Pr 16:3]). Works--what you have to do and cannot set forth as a burden.
trust ... in him--literally, "on Him." He will do what you cannot (compare [Psa 22:8]; ). He will not suffer your character to remain under suspicion.
7-8. Rest in--literally, "Be silent to the Lord."
and wait--Be submissive--avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.
9. Two reasons: The prosperity of the wicked is short; and the pious, by humble trust, will secure all covenant blessing, denoted here by "inherit the earth" (compare [Psa 25:13]).
10-11. shall not be--literally, "is not"--is not to be found.
12. gnasheth ... teeth--in beastly rage.
13. (Compare [Psa 2:4]).
seeth--knows certainly.
his day--of punishment, long delayed, shall yet come ([He 10:37]).
14-15. sword, and ... bow--for any instruments of violence.
slay--literally, "slaughter" ([1Sa 25:11]).
poor and needy--God's people ([Psa 10:17]; ). The punishment of the wicked as drawn on themselves--often mentioned (compare [Psa 7:15], ; ).
16. riches--literally, "noise and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare [Psa 39:6]). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man is more vivid.
17. Even the members of the body needed to hold weapons are destroyed.
18-19. God, who knows His people's changes, provides against evil and supplies all their need.
20. While the wicked, however mighty, are destroyed, and that utterly, as smoke which vanishes and leaves no trace.
21-22. payeth not--not able; having grown poor (compare [De 15:7]). Ability of the one and inability of the other do not exclude moral dispositions. God's blessing or cursing makes the difference.
23-24. steps--way, or, "course of life"; as ordered by God, failures will not be permanent.
26. his seed is blessed--literally, "for a blessing" ([Ge 12:2]; [Psa 21:6]). This position is still true as the rule of God's economy ([1Ti 4:8]; ).
27-29. The exhortation is sustained by the assurance of God's essential rectitude in that providential government which provides perpetual blessings for the good, and perpetual misery for the wicked.
30-31. The righteous described as to the elements of character, thought, word, and action.
32-33. The devices of the wicked against the good fail because God acquits them.
34. On the contrary, the good are not only blessed, but made to see the ruin of their foes.