I recently encountered this Psalm in the midst of a difficult season and the Lord let me see a pattern in this ancient prayer song that is a good one for us to use, as well.
Psalm 36 (English Standard Version)How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love
To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD. 1Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his 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.
3The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.
David, in no way ignores evil, here. He begins His quiet time, if you will, by recognizing the evil that he sees with his eyes. But watch where he looks next...
5Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O LORD.
He consciously looks up! He begins to declare who God is and what His heart is. This is praise.
7How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light do we see light.
Once David begins to form a picture of God in his minds eye, his reaction begins to turn from praise to thanksgiving. As we read this thanksgiving, we realize just how much joy there is in living under the authority and protection of our great God.
10Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12There the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.
It is here that David begins to intercede. He started out with his own viewpoint in full view, but when He began to focus on God, his viewpoint changed. How many times have we prayed and never left the complaints of verses 1-4? It is no wonder that our prayers are not full of power. If they are only our opinions spoken to God, how do we expect that we will see them answered? Notice that the intercession found here at the conclusion is not devoid of the reality of evil that was in full focus at the beginning...it is just in the right context, now.
Oh God, give us a clear revelation of who You are so we will know how to respond with Your heart in the midst of tough times. Let us always remember to cling to Your promises with all the strength afforded to us by Your grace.
Praying Through,
~Jon
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