God in the Middle

Temple Baptist Church - 9-14-2025

Psalm 36

 

Introduction

A. Psalm 36 is a study in contrasts. What a huge contrast! In this Psalm, we find a description of the wicked, a description of the saved, with God in the middle. This is not meant to be disrespectful, but God is the Buffer.

 

B. The title is “A psalm of David the servant of the LORD.” I love the Davidic Psalms because they show us the victories and defeats of a man after God’s own heart. Oftentimes, we tend to make these biblical examples super spiritual, rather than seeing them as the stories of men and women who struggle from day to day, just as we do.

 

C. This psalm gives us a contrast between saved and lost sinners. I believe that we know who we are, and the only difference between saved and lost is a personal choice! “But for the grace of God go I” has been used by many over the years concerning the saved and lost.

 

D. Now, let us break the psalm down into its four parts.

 

1. The Wicked Man. Psalm 36:1-4

 

2. The Righteous Throne of God. Psalm 36:5-6

 

3. The Saved Man. Psalm 36:7-9

 

4. The Prayer of The Righteous. Psalm 36:10-12

 

1. The Wicked Man. Verses 1-4

 

a. The Sinful Man’s Persuasion (36:1) “that there is no fear of God.” This man is not only wicked, but he is also foolish! Not all men fall into the category of the “fool,” who rejects the truth that there is a God.

 

b. The Sinful Man’s Pride (36:2) “For he flattereth himself in his own eyes.” He is both proud and self-centered.

 

c. The Sinful Man’s Policy (36:3a) “The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit.” Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh!

 

d. The Sinful Man’s Past (36:3b) ´ he hath left off to be wise, and to do good. ' There was a time and place where he permanently chose to leave God. When they knew God, they glorified not God!”

 

e. The Sinful Man’s Plans (36:4a) “He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good.” His heart’s desire is to do wickedly instead of good. The deceitfulness and hardness of a sinner’s heart make them both unrighteous and unreachable.

 

f. The Sinful Man’s Path (36:4b) “he abhorreth not evil.” He will more than likely continue on the path chosen.

 

2. The Righteous Throne of God. Verses 5-6.

 

a. A Throne That Cannot Be Matched. (36:5) “Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.” It is a heavenly throne founded in mercy and faithfulness. Nothing matches God!

 

b. A Throne That Cannot Be Moved. (36:6a) “ Thy righteousness is like the great mountains.” God’s throne is an eternal one. Eternality belongs to God alone as the thrones of earth come and go, they rise and they fall, but God’s throne is an everlasting one. Nothing shakes God!

 

c. A Throne That Cannot Be Measured. (36:6b) “ thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.” God created everything, owns everything, and sustains everything. He alone is God!

 

3. The Saved Man. Verses 7-9.

 

a. He Is Wonderfully Sure. (36:7) “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” There are so many things that I neither know or understand, but I have found out through all the troubles and trials of this life that I can trust God!

 

b. He Is Wonderfully Satisfied. (36:8) “ They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.” Barbara and I have enough! We have the desires of our hearts! God is good all the time, and His pleasures are eternal ones. The Believer’s Satisfaction. Verses 5-7.

 

1) Verse 5. The Satisfaction of God’s Mercy. Psalm 23:6 says Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life! Our God is merciful!

 

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

2) Verse 6. The Satisfaction of God’s Faithfulness. God is Faithful. Though we are often not as faithful as we should be, God is always faithful!

 

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

3) Verse 7. The Satisfaction of God’s Loving Kindness. God is not only loving, He is gentle.

 

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

 

4) Verse 7. The Satisfaction of God’s Sheltering. Under the shadow of Thy wings!

 

Psalms 91:1-4 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 

c. He Is Wonderfully Saved. (36:9) “ For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” Salvation is a fountain that never goes dry; a fountain that is always fresh; a fountain that satisfies our souls.

 

4. The Prayer of The Righteous. Psalm 36:10-12

 

a. Keep My Heart Right! (36:10) “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.” Oh, how I want to finish my course with joy, fight the good fight, and keep the faith!

 

b. Keep Me From Failing or Falling. (36:11) “Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.” Remove all pride and defeat all the wicked that surround me.

 

c. Keep Me Having Compassion For The Wicked. (36:12) “ There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” One day, they will die, and hell and the Lake of Fire will be their eternity. God help me to witness to the lost!