Psalm 36
As I read this Psalm contrasting God's faithfulness and love to the sinful hearts of people who don't know Him, the first impression I was struck with was how David personifies transgression. In the Jewish Study Bible the first line reads "I know what Transgression says to the wicked; he has no sense of the dread of God, because it's speech is seductive to him". Evil is real and has a voice. People who don't know God are enticed by it's appeal. In contrast, for those who know Him, we are aware that God's love is everywhere and in all attributes of His character, He saturates us with love and kindness in the shelter of His wings. When we tune in to hear His voice, we are offered grace and forgiveness in His love for us. The contrasting image of sin versus knowing God is found in verse 9 and 12: "For with You is the fountain of life" (v.9), "See how the evildoers lie fallen thrown down, not able to rise (12)." We see this imagery used in Jeremiah where forsaking the spring of living water is compared to digging our own cistern (2:13). Jesus Himself tells us in John 4:14, "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life". When we open our hearts to God, He faithfully pours His love into us. His refreshing springs of water will wash away any sin, and all we have to do is receive it. None of us are perfect, and we all have a story. We have to always keep in mind that the world sees God through our testimony. Sharing our story and revealing God's love is how we glorify our King. I pray we all get to share our story today.
Randi
As I read this Psalm contrasting God's faithfulness and love to the sinful hearts of people who don't know Him, the first impression I was struck with was how David personifies transgression. In the Jewish Study Bible the first line reads "I know what Transgression says to the wicked; he has no sense of the dread of God, because it's speech is seductive to him". Evil is real and has a voice. People who don't know God are enticed by it's appeal. In contrast, for those who know Him, we are aware that God's love is everywhere and in all attributes of His character, He saturates us with love and kindness in the shelter of His wings. When we tune in to hear His voice, we are offered grace and forgiveness in His love for us. The contrasting image of sin versus knowing God is found in verse 9 and 12: "For with You is the fountain of life" (v.9), "See how the evildoers lie fallen thrown down, not able to rise (12)." We see this imagery used in Jeremiah where forsaking the spring of living water is compared to digging our own cistern (2:13). Jesus Himself tells us in John 4:14, "Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life". When we open our hearts to God, He faithfully pours His love into us. His refreshing springs of water will wash away any sin, and all we have to do is receive it. None of us are perfect, and we all have a story. We have to always keep in mind that the world sees God through our testimony. Sharing our story and revealing God's love is how we glorify our King. I pray we all get to share our story today.
Randi
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