Read
(For the music leader by David, the Lord's servant.)
Human Sin
1 Sinners don't respect God;
sin is all they think about.
2They like themselves too much
to hate their own sins
or even to see them.
3They tell deceitful lies,
and they don't have the sense
to live right.
4Those people stay awake,
thinking up mischief,
and they follow the wrong road,
refusing to turn from sin.
5Your love is faithful, Lord,
and even the clouds in the sky
can depend on you.
6Your decisions are always fair.
They are firm like mountains,
deep like the sea,
and all people and animals
are under your care.
7Your love is a treasure,
and everyone finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8You give your guests a feast
in your house,
and you serve a tasty drink
that flows like a river.
9The life-giving fountain
belongs to you,
and your light gives light
to each of us.
10Our Lord, keep showing love
to everyone who knows you,
and use your power to save all
whose thoughts please you.
11Don't let those proud
and merciless people
kick me around
or chase me away.
12Look at those wicked people!
They are knocked down,
never to get up again.
Reflect
Evil is real. A few minutes of CNN provide ample evidence that there are people on this planet who take pleasure in destruction.
While no one is without sin (1 John 1:8), Psalm 36 describes a special breed of sinner. The “wicked” surrender themselves to sin, dismissing any claim God has on their lives. For them, evil morphs from temptation to obsession – “sin is all they think about,” day and especially night.
An ongoing quandary in the Psalms is the question, “Why do the wicked prosper?” (see Psalms 10 and 73). If God is good and sovereign, why does he tolerate injustice on the earth?
Psalm 36 deals with this dilemma by moving abruptly in verse 5 to a vividly beautiful description of the love of God. Read verses 5-10 again.
The psalmist does not force a resolution; he lets the tension between his experience of the world’s evil and his assurance of God’s goodness stand. He may not have answers to many of his questions. (Why do innocent children suffer? When will there be justice? How will God bring it about?) But what he does have the answer to the Who question.
Who is God? He is love, justice, steadfastness, compassion, shelter, bounty, life and light.
It’s tempting to think of good and evil as equal forces deadlocked in mortal combat. What Psalm 36 reminds us is that all the evil in the universe doesn’t cover the head of a pin when it’s compared to the goodness of God.
Philip Yancey claims that “faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.” The author of Psalm 36 demonstrates how this sort of trust, based on God’s character, is possible. For now, there is mystery. But God’s unassailable goodness remains, and it always will.
Respond
Father, Thank you for revealing your character in your Word, in nature, and especially in Jesus. I don’t understand the problem of evil. But I do understand that you’re good. Expand my trust and my vision, that I might participate in the coming of your very good kingdom. Amen.
Carolyn Arends
Carolyn Arends (MA, Theological Studies, Regent College), has released 12 award-winning albums and 3 critically-acclaimed books. Her prose has been recognized by The Word Guild, The Evangelical Press Association, and the Canadian Church Press. Carolyn is currently the Director of Education for Renovaré, a far-reaching organization that encourages and nurtures spiritual renewal. She continues to be available on a select basis for speaking, retreat facilitation, concerts, worship leading and songwriting and performance seminars. She lives in Surrey, BC with her husband Mark and their two children. Book Releases 2012 Theology in Aisle 7 (CTE Books) 2008 Wrestling With Angels (Harvest House/ConversantLife)* Album Releases 2014 Christmas: The Story of Stories (2B Records), 2009 Love Was Here First (2B Records/Signpost Music).