7 How precious is thy loving-kindness, O God! So the sons of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings.
Jehovah recompense thy work, and let thy reward be full from Jehovah the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou find refuge: his truth is a shield and buckler.
See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called [the] children of God. For this reason the world knows us not, because it knew him not.
But how precious are thy thoughts unto me, O ùGod! how great is the sum of them!
{To the chief Musician. 'Destroy not.' Of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul in the cave.} Be gracious unto me, O God, be gracious unto me; for my soul taketh refuge in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings do I take refuge, until the calamities be overpast.
[Oh] how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, [which] thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee, before the sons of men!
through which he has given to us the greatest and precious promises, that through these ye may become partakers of [the] divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And Jehovah passed by before his face, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah ùGod merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Because it is contained in the scripture: Behold, I lay in Zion a corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be put to shame. To you therefore who believe [is] the preciousness; but to the disobedient, the stone which the builders cast away as worthless, this is become head of [the] corner,
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the [city] that kills the prophets and stones those that are sent unto her, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen her brood under her wings, and ye would not.
They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Jehovah is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 36
Commentary on Psalms 36 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 36
Ps 36:1-12. On servant of the Lord, see on Ps 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 (Ps 25:10).
6. righteousness [and] judgments—qualities of a good government (Ps 5:8; 31:1). These all are set forth, by the figures used, as unbounded.
7. shadow of thy wings—(Compare De 32:11; Ps 91:1).
8. fatness—richness.
thy house—residence—for the privileges and blessings of communion with God (Ps 23:6; 27:4).
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.