A meditation on the godlessness of the wicked and on the great goodness of God.
Scripture References:
st. 1 = vv. 1-4
st. 2 = vv. 5-6a
st. 3 = vv. 6b-8
st. 4 = vv. 9-10
st. 5 =vv. 11-12
Psalm 36's reflections on the godless character of the wicked (st. 1) precede an especially rich observation of God's goodness: God's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice (st. 2) are manifest in God's preservation of all life, in his protection of all who take refuge in him, and in his bounteous provision for all their needs (st. 3). In rapid succession the psalm gives us three striking and fertile images: God's "river of delights" (v. 8), God's "fountain of life," and God's "light" by which "we see light" (v. 9; st. 4). The psalmist asks God to continue loving and providing for the faithful (st. 4) and closes with a prayer for deliverance from the wicked (st. 5). Psalm 36 provides no clue to its original occasion, but its theme and tone suggest a time of quiet meditation at the temple (see 48:9; 63:2) or during a wakeful hour of the night (see 42:8; 77:6). Bert Witvoet (PHH 4) paraphrased this psalm in 1981 for the Psalter Hymnal.
Liturgical Use
Beginning of worship; occasions of wisdom teaching contrasting God's goodness with the godlessness of the wicked; praise of the Lord for providing in creation and for leading in our lives (st. 2-4). The middle portion of this psalm (st. 3-4) is also tradition¬ally used in the Jewish morning prayer.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook
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