Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

What does Psalms Chapter 36 mean?

Sin is rooted deeply within the human heart (Jeremiah 17:9). That innate wickedness is the source of our evil actions (Matthew 15:18–19). Here, David notes that those who reject God find themselves overtaken by sin. They lose all respect for the Lord (Proverbs 1:7), and all fear of eternal consequences for their actions. Instead, they assume that what they do will never be punished, or never even found out. Sin is so addictive that those who turn from God find themselves constantly pursuing depravity, even when they try to sleep (Psalm 36:1–4).

In contrast, God’s character is flawless and perfect. In mercy, God extends a measure of grace to all people and all animals. This is seen in His continued provision in nature. The Lord’s graciousness is also expressed in His “steadfast love,” or “lovingkindness,” from the Hebrew term hesed. This passage uses the imagery of God’s protection extending like the wings of a mother bird (Psalm 36:5–9).

David closes the psalm with an appeal for God to maintain that “steadfast love” to His people. David uses references to both hands and feet to depict the attacks of wicked people. He prays for God’s protection against those assaults. The psalm ends with David picturing these enemies as already defeated, so utterly conquered that they can never regroup (Psalm 36:10–12).

Chapter Context
This psalm uses common themes from David’s other writings which celebrate God’s loyal love for those who honor Him (Psalm 3:3; 7:10; 40:9–10). The passage focuses on David’s thoughts regarding evil in the world and the contrast such attitudes show to God’s character. He concludes the psalm with a prayer that God would continue to extend love and righteousness to His people.

Verse by Verse

Verse 1. Transgression speaks to the wickeddeep in his heart;there is no fear of Godbefore his eyes.

David portrays sin as deeply rooted in the human heart (Matthew 15:18–19). Jeremiah 17:9 reinforces this truth by stating: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The deception of sin is only implied in this verse but clarified in the following statements (Psalm 36:2–4). The allure of sin deceives the wicked person. It tells him there is no reason to respect or obey God (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 10:11). Temptation persuades a person that crossing God’s boundaries carries no consequences. It tells him he will not be punished for disobedience.

The Devil deceived Eve into doubting the consequence which God promised for disobedience. “You shall not surely die,” he told her. He added: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4–5). Sin is so deceptive that it denies God’s truth and shows itself to be desirable (James 1:13–18).

The word “transgression” here comes from the Hebrew pesha’, which implies a deliberate violation. A “transgression” is literally a “going beyond a line.” The concept is also used in reference to things like property; a related word in English is “trespass.” The original word suggests something purposeful or knowing; this is not a sincere mistake, but rather a conscious choice to ignore God’s will.

Context Summary
Psalm 36:1–4 opens with an ugly but accurate picture of the immoral, evil person. Sin is lodged deep inside them, without respect for God or His will. Such a person lives as if there will never be consequences for their actions; as if no one will even know about their sin. David characterizes this depraved person as plotting sin, embracing evil, and ignoring godly wisdom.

Verse 2. For he flatters himself in his own eyesthat his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

A common attitude among those who reject God’s wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) is the deception of thinking there will be no consequences (Psalm 36:1). Those fooled by sinful thinking assume no one will know, or care, about what they have done. This perspective is wrong: it means looking at sin from a fallible, human perspective instead of through God’s eyes.

Although God loves the sinner (Ezekiel 18:23; Romans 5:10), He despises sin (Proverbs 6:16–19). Furthermore, as Hebrews 4:13 points out, “No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, they tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:8). Sin causes sinners to try to hide from God, but every such attempt will fail. No one escapes the punishment deserved for sin unless they trust Jesus Christ as Savior (John 3:16–18). When they do, they receive forgiveness as well as the power to resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 2:12–13).

Verse 3. The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

David is depicting the attitude of a depraved person who rejects God and embraces sin (Psalm 36:1–2). Earlier verses suggested self-deception, as the wicked person assumes they will suffer no consequences for what they do. Here, the evil individual themselves is a source of lies and deceptions (Proverbs 6:16–19; Psalm 7:14).

This pattern follows the example of Satan. Ephesians 2:1–2 describes the life of believers before they trusted in Christ as their Savior. It says when they were “dead in the trespasses and sins,” they “walked, following the [evil world system], following the prince of the power of the air [the Devil], the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” Jesus spoke of the link that exists between a corrupt heart and corrupt words and deeds. He said, “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speak…the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil” (Matthew 12:34–35).

This verse also notes that the wicked person acts foolishly. It is extremely unwise to disobey God by leading a sinful life (Proverbs 1:7; 3:1–6; 8:34–36).

Verse 4. He plots trouble while on his bed;he sets himself in a way that is not good;he does not reject evil.

There are a few ways to interpret this reference to an evil person’s lifestyle (Psalm 36:1–3). One is that the evil person loses sleep over their constant plotting of sin. Or they are so addicted to depravity they cannot rest until accomplishing some perverse goal (Proverbs 4:16). Such an approach is a sharp contrast to meditating on God’s Word day and night (Psalm 1:2).

Another meaning is that someone deeply entrenched in “transgressions” of God’s will is drawn to evil even when they are resting. The prophet Micah warns about someone who schemes in this way, saying, “Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds!” (Micah 2:1). Righteous people with a clear conscience can sleep soundly (Psalm 3:5). In contrast, “‘the wicked are like the tossing sea…There is no peace’, says my God, ‘for the wicked’” (Isaiah 57:20–21).

This verse also notes that those who doggedly reject God (Proverbs 29:1) are set in their evil ways. They choose a path that ignores the Lord and insist on it (Proverbs 5:1–6). This person refuses to reject evil (Proverbs 21:7). Turning from sin and accepting the Savior is the only way a wicked person’s heart and conduct can change. Second Corinthians 5:17 proclaims: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Verse 5. Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,your faithfulness to the clouds.

Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, writes: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Love is the first example David lists in describing God’s character. He points out that God’s love knows no limits. It extends to the heavens. But God’s limitless love also extends to a world of lost sinners. John 3:16 affirms that He loved the world so much that “he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 5:8 points out that “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Lord’s love is so strong that nothing can separate His children from it (Romans 8:38–39). Not only is God’s love limitless but His faithfulness is also without end. David describes this as extending to the clouds. God never fails to provide for His creatures. He is faithful to keep every promise He has made. Jeremiah repeats this idea in Lamentations 3:23.

This verse uses the Hebrew word hesed, often used to depict God’s “lovingkindness” or “steadfast love” (Psalm 36:10)

Context Summary
Psalm 36:5–9 comes after a scathing description of the wicked person. David now focuses on the excellent characteristics of the Lord God. This positive focus on God’s character offers deep peace and assurance. He knows he can trust the Lord to keep him safe from the evil schemes of the wicked.

Verse 6. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;your judgments are like the great deep;man and beast you save, O Lord.

David began this section praising God for His amazing love (Psalm 36:5). Now he attributes firm, unmovable righteousness to God’s character. Most deities of world religions are portrayed as fallible. They are changing, fickle, and sometimes must be convinced to keep their own word. A defining characteristic of the God of the Bible is His absolute, unchanging perfection. Unlike pagan idols, David’s God—the true God— is righteous always and forever. He is worthy of praise and honor because He can always be trusted to do what is right. His “saving” of animals and men alike, as mentioned here, is in this general context (Psalm 104:14–15; 145:9; Nehemiah 9:6).

The phrase “mountains of God” seems to follow the same pattern as descriptions such as “trees of the Lord” (Psalm 104:16) or “the river of God” (Psalm 65:9): ideas or creations which exemplify His greatness. The connection between God’s profound perspective and the idea of “depth” is also seen in other Scriptures (Psalm 71:19; 92:5).

Not one iota of sin stains God’s righteous character. The character of Jesus, too, is perfectly righteous. The apostle Peter writes: “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). The apostle Paul cites Jesus’ sinlessness in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake he made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Verse 7. How precious is your steadfast love, O God!The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

As he did in earlier statements (Psalm 36:5), David extols God’s loyal love. Just as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings to protect them (Deuteronomy 32:11; Matthew 23:37), David sees God providing protection for His children (Psalm 17:8). All people are called on to take advantage of God’s offer of salvation (Psalm 145:18). Other parts of the psalms connect God’s protective “wings” with the idea of the “tabernacle,” a tent used for worshipping God (Psalm 61:4).

An image which may have been in David’s mind was the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. The Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33–34) was the sacred place where God’s presence settled. A distinctive feature of that location was the ark of the covenant. This object included angelic figures whose wings spread over the “mercy seat” on the ark (Exodus 25:17–22). The ark of the covenant held copies of commandments (Exodus 25:16), and the mercy seat was where the high priest sprinkled blood to atone for Israel’s sins (Leviticus 16:14). The cherubim looked upon the mercy seat as if to wonder about the mystery of God’s love for sinners which permitted blood to come between God’s presence and man’s sin (1 Peter 1:12).

Verse 8. They feast on the abundance of your house,and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

There is nothing drab about God or His gifts. In Psalm 16:11 David writes: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” False approaches to spirituality, or worldly pleasure, can only produce temporary and shallow satisfaction (2 Peter 3:10–11; Mark 8:36. These are different from true joy and delight. Those gifts are found only in a right relationship with the true God (Romans 5:10–11).

The river of God’s delights is mentioned in Ezekiel 47. It provides life and refreshing to all it touches. The prior verse noted that God extends a measure of love and mercy to all people (Psalm 36:7; 145:18). The greatest of His gifts is the offer of salvation. Jesus promises in John 4:14: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” This same idea is hinted at in the following verse (Psalm 36:9).

Priests were entitled to portions of sacrifices offered in the tabernacle (Leviticus 6:14–23; 7:14, 31–34; Deuteronomy 18:1–5). Rather than being given land, or other inheritance in Canaan, the priests were supported by the “abundance” of God’s literal house (Deuteronomy 10:9).

Verse 9. For with you is the fountain of life;in your light do we see light.

David has praised God for His mercy and gifts to mankind (Psalm 36:5–8). The greatest of these blessings is the offer of salvation. So, here, David praises the Lord for His “fountain of life” and being the Giver of light. Fountains and other images of moving water are used in the Bible with connection to life (Zechariah 14:8; Revelation 22:1; John 4:13–14). Light is the biblical ideal of truth, goodness, and knowledge.

The gospel of John reveals clearly that Jesus came into the world to give life and light to those who believe on Him (John 1:3; 14:6). In John 10:10 Jesus contrasts the thief who steals sheep with Himself. He states: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Before He raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus told Lazarus’ sister Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25–26). He told the scribes and Pharisees: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Believers in Jesus do not walk through life blindly. They follow Jesus, who guides them as surely as the pillar of fire guided Israel by night (Exodus 13:21–22).

Verse 10. Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

The Hebrew word hesed is rendered as “steadfast love” or “lovingkindness.” The term implies things like loyalty, mercy, favor, and goodness. The word is among the primary descriptions of God’s loving nature as seen in the Old Testament (Exodus 34:6¬–7; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 36:5; 136). David prays that God will continue to show this gracious care for those who honor the Lord. Those who are “upright of heart” are a contrast to those who reject God and pursue what is evil (Proverbs 10:9; 21:8).

It is entirely by grace that anyone can know the Lord. Jeremiah 31:34 indicates that someday the Lord will put His law in the hearts of the people of Israel and save them. He prophesies: “And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.”

Jesus draws a distinction between those who are of the world and His followers. He says the world will hate His followers and will persecute them. He explains, “But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me” (John 15:21). It is one thing to know about the Lord but an entirely different matter to know Him personally. Those who know Him enjoy His love and receive His righteousness (Ephesians 1:3–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 John 3:1).

Verse 11. Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

David prays for protection from wickedness. In poetic style, he refers to both hands and feet, in this context as weapons or instruments of violence. Hands hold weapons (Psalm 149:6) and feet are used to trample an enemy and signal their submission (Psalm 56:2). In David’s case this was a very literal concept, as his enemies often sought to kill him (1 Samuel 19:1–2; 2 Samuel 15:13–14). Influence, also, is a way in which wickedness tempts believers (Proverbs 13:20).

This prayer provides a warning to believers today to trust the Lord for protection. God does not always promise physical security, and not all threats are as immediate as those faced by David. Yet Christians should note the spiritual nature of their real enemy, instead of being self-reliant (Ephesians 6:10–18). Peter learned the hard way that self-confidence paves the road to a spiritual fall. He boasted that he would never forsake the Lord (John 13:36–38), but later, while warming himself at the enemy’s fire, he denied Jesus three times (John 18:15–18, 25–27). The Bible assures us that pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18) and warns, “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Verse 12. There the evildoers lie fallen;they are thrust down, unable to rise.

In recent verses, David has been praying for God’s defeat of evil and wicked enemies (Psalm 36:10–11). Here, he expresses supreme confidence in the Lord’s eventual victory. This statement depicts those same enemies as if they are already beaten. He foresees a time when they lie fallen and unable to rise again.

At times, we fear a defeated enemy may regroup and attack once again. In the end times, God will accomplish an absolute and irreversible victory. After the rapture, when God removes Christians from the earth, the seven-year tribulation period takes place. Many Jews will come to know the Lord as their Messiah, but they will face intense persecution from the man of sin and his followers. The Devil will use the wicked to pursue and persecute the saved Jews (Revelation 12). However, at the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return to earth. He will deliver His persecuted tribulation saints. He will thoroughly defeat and destroy the wicked.

Revelation 19:11–21 unveils the picture of this decisive victory, and Revelation 20:7–15 relates the final punishment of everyone whose name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life. Today, at times it seems that the wicked are winning the war against the righteous, but ultimately the tables will turn, and both sin and death will be “thrust down,” never to rise again (2 Peter 3:8–13).

End of Psalm 36

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