Friday Devo
Scripture:
Psalm 36
For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.
1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.[a]
They have no fear of God at all.
2 In their blind conceit,
they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
Their actions are never good.
They make no attempt to turn from evil.
5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.
10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 Don’t let the proud trample me
or the wicked push me around.
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
They are thrown down, never to rise again.
For the choir director: A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord.
1 Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.[a]
They have no fear of God at all.
2 In their blind conceit,
they cannot see how wicked they really are.
3 Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.
They refuse to act wisely or do good.
4 They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.
Their actions are never good.
They make no attempt to turn from evil.
5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
You care for people and animals alike, O Lord.
7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.
8 You feed them from the abundance of your own house,
letting them drink from your river of delights.
9 For you are the fountain of life,
the light by which we see.
10 Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you;
give justice to those with honest hearts.
11 Don’t let the proud trample me
or the wicked push me around.
12 Look! Those who do evil have fallen!
They are thrown down, never to rise again.
Commentary:
36:10–12 Show Your Steadfast Love by Protecting Us from the Wicked. The final stanza is a prayer in response to the reflections of the first two stanzas. It follows the topics in reverse order: God’s steadfast love (v. 10), and the wicked (v. 11). It is an appeal to God’s reliable love for his faithful ones (those who know you, i.e., the upright of heart, v. 10), in the face of the scheming of those who would harm them.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 982.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 982.
Questions:
Psalm 36 begins by showing us the danger of sin, but it ends by reminding us that sin does not have the final word. After describing the greatness of God's love, faithfulness, righteousness, and justice, David ends with a prayer: "Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you." Even after all David has seen about God, he knows he still needs God's grace to keep him.
We don't overcome sin by becoming strong enough on our own. We overcome sin by staying close to the God who is stronger than sin. David also asks God to protect him from "the foot of pride." Pride is at the center of every rebellion against God. It says, "I know better. I can run my own life. I don't need God." But Psalm 36 reminds us that pride always leads to a fall because it puts us in opposition to the One who truly sits on the throne.
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus did what prideful humanity could never do. He humbled Himself, obeyed the Father perfectly, and defeated sin through His death and resurrection. The King we resisted is also the Savior we need. One day, every false kingdom will fall. Every attempt to live apart from God will come to an end. But those who belong to Christ can have confidence that His love will hold them firm.
The answer to sin is not simply trying harder. The answer is surrendering to the King who has already won.
We don't overcome sin by becoming strong enough on our own. We overcome sin by staying close to the God who is stronger than sin. David also asks God to protect him from "the foot of pride." Pride is at the center of every rebellion against God. It says, "I know better. I can run my own life. I don't need God." But Psalm 36 reminds us that pride always leads to a fall because it puts us in opposition to the One who truly sits on the throne.
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus did what prideful humanity could never do. He humbled Himself, obeyed the Father perfectly, and defeated sin through His death and resurrection. The King we resisted is also the Savior we need. One day, every false kingdom will fall. Every attempt to live apart from God will come to an end. But those who belong to Christ can have confidence that His love will hold them firm.
The answer to sin is not simply trying harder. The answer is surrendering to the King who has already won.
- Where are you most tempted to take control instead of trusting God? What does that struggle reveal about what you believe God can or cannot be trusted to do?
- Why is pride such a serious problem in Scripture, and why does God oppose it so strongly? How does Jesus' humility and obedience become the answer to humanity's pride and rebellion?
- What area of your life have you been trying to rule instead of surrendering to King Jesus? What would surrender in that area require you to believe, release, or change?
Prayer Topics:
- Confess the ways pride has caused you to trust yourself more than God.
- Thank Jesus for humbling Himself to save sinners and for His promise to hold His people secure.
- Praise Jesus as the true King whose victory over sin and death will never be undone.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time, and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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