Praying Psalm 36

 “Chesed”

 

What is the title of Psalm 36? To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

Read Psalm 36:1-4

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in MY heart; there is no fear of God before HIS eyes.
² For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
³ The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
⁴ He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

What is the problem?

Transgression & sin have a hold on me/him. Who are we talking about? David.

 DESCRIBE evil.

Read Psalm 36:5-6

⁵ Your steadfast love (chesed), O YHWH, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O YHWH.

Who is YHWH?

Chesed (steadfast love), faithfulness (amad = truth), righteousness, judgements = SAVE!

Read 36:7-9

⁷ How precious is your steadfast love (chesed), O God! The sons of man take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

What are the benefits for His people?

Precious Chesed (Steadfast Love)

Refuge, Feast & Drink = river of delight

Light = we see light (headlamps)

Read 36:10-12

¹⁰ Oh, continue your steadfast love (chesed) to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
¹¹ Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.

What is David’s Prayer?

Continue Chesed (steadfast love)!
Don’t let body parts – MY body parts? – drive me away.
THIS is the error of evildoers. They are driven away from chesed.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?

Describe Evil in David
Describe God & His steadfast love (chesed)
Plead Make/keep this relationship mine AND protect from arrogance & wickedness.

How can we pray this? Continue chesed = mercy gifts in spite of my sin.
Acknowledge/See  Evil in ME
Acknowledge/See God & His steadfast love (chesed)
Plead Make/keep this relationship mine AND protect ME from arrogance & wickedness.

 How does Christ fulfill this psalm?

We know sinfulness is not just outside – Its INSIDE.
Paul quotes this in Romans 3:18 – universal sinfulness. This awful person is ME!
CHRIST is the chesed (steadfast love) that God shows to us. Debt paid for our sin.
We pray, continue to do that "CHRIST Mercy" to me God. Don’t let me get caught up in my own self.


WE PRAY:  

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God, indeed, tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that the devil, the world, and our flesh may not deceive us, nor seduce us into misbelief, despair, and other great shame and vice; and though we be assailed by them, that still we may finally overcome and gain the victory.