Finding Yourself in the Psalms

Psalm 36

A Psalm Reminding Us of Who We Are – And Who HE Is!

I. God’s Revelation About Humanity. 36:1-4
A. Only GOD can reveal the TRUTH about humanity
1. One greater must describe that which is inferior
2. Only God knows our beginning and ending
3. We can only speak of that which we DO
a. Our good works b. Our nobility
c. Our genuineness
4. God describes us by what we do NOT DO
a. “No fear of God” 36:1
b. No hatred of sin. 36:2
c. No truth in his lips. 36:3 d. No wisdom. 36:3
e. No restraint. 36:4
f. No discernment. 36:4
5. We are further described by what we do not have
a. NO PEACE. Isa 48:22; 57:21
b. NO RIGHTEOUSNESS. Rom 3:9 c. NO HOPE. Ephesians 2:12
d. NO LIFE. Ephesians 2:1
II. God’s Revelation About Himself. 36:5-9
A. FOUR FOLD DESCRIPTION. Ps 89:14
1. Love and Faithfulness
a. (Exodus 34:6, NIV) "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,"
b. Used 21x in Psalms (25:10; 36:5; 40:10; 57:3; 57:10; 61:7; 86:15;
88:11; 89: 2, 14, 24, 33, 49; 92:2; 98:3; 100:5; 108:4; 115:1;
117:2; 138:2; 145:13)
c. In the NT, used to describe the BELIEVER
(1) (Colossians 1:5, NIV) "the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel"
(2) (Ephesians 1:15, NIV) " For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,"
(3) (1 Thessalonians 1:3, NIV) "We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
(4) (1 Timothy 1:14, NIV) "The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus."
(5) (Revelation 2:19, NIV) "I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first."
2. Righteousness and justice.
a. Jer 9:23-24 “this is what the Lord says, let not the wise man . .
.kindness, justice and righteousness . . .”
b. Combined 7x in Psalms
c. 15x in Isaiah (either of God or of Israel’s lack of justice and
righteousness)
3. His unfailing love (hesed)
a. Judah’s sin caused God to put her away. Isa 50:1
b. God will yet restore her because of his unfailing love. Isa 53:6-8
III. God’s Protection for His Children. 36:10-12
Wood carver – “sees” the final creation in an ugly piece of wood
We can find ourselves only in God
The picture of humanity is not pretty
But what He does in our lives is a work of beauty