Psalm 36

Sin is a talker. Sin saddles up next to the wicked and whispers sweet nothings into their ear. David says of the wicked, "Sin speaks deep in his heart." There is no God, it says. These words tickle the ears and comfort the hearts of unrepentant sinners. No God, no consequence for action. No God, perfect liberty to live in such a way that pleases and gratifies every desire. "My sin can never be found out," they say. "My sin cannot be hated." An interesting and telling fear. Innate in every human is the need to be loved and respected. The lack of these two gifts, often self-induced, leads to all manner of rebellion, under the name of 'compensation.' We convince ourselves that our own actions and personalities cannot be hated or despised. The problem could never reside in us. More sweet nothings spoken deep in our heart. Aptly named, for they are sweet to the ear, but have no substance. We lie to ourselves, convinced by our own sin, that no one will hate our iniquity. It is the rare individual who works evil out of pure apathy. The common sinner will truly believe his sin will be seen as noble and true. David speaks rightly, "he has ceased to act wisely." A nice way of saying he has descended into nonsense. He who becomes wise in his own eyes becomes a fool in the eyes of everyone else. The deceived sinner turns inward, seeing no one else, trusting no one else. He lies awake at night, trusting his own counsel. He has lost all discernment.

What a contrast with the mercy of our heavenly Father! David makes the difference plain to see. The wicked turn inward, almost collapsing into themselves. The steadfast love of the Lord however, "extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds." As high as the mountains reach, so too His righteousness; as deep and as unfathomable as the great ocean depths, so too are His judgements. The salvation of the Lord spans His creation, to both man and beast. This point exemplifies the nature of both sin and righteousness. All sin is inward focused. Love and righteousness are entirely outward in their trajectories. Sin lies in bed at night, plotting pettily. Righteousness sheds light on all, brings light to all, becomes light in all that dwell in truth. It seeks not only the wellbeing of others, but of all creation. It views this world as a garden to be tended, as a gift to be enjoyed, and as a city to be filled.

David encourages us with the truth that there is no where we can go where the faithfulness of God has not already gone. Whether it be the uttermost depths of the sea, or the furtherest reaches of the stars, He is there, and there He loves. This love is precious precisely at this point. It is a treasure more valuable the gold. For in His love we rest, we feast, we drink, we see. In the shadow of wings we take refuge. On the abundance of His house, we feast. From the river of delights, we drink. In His light, we see light. The children of mankind partake of the fountain of life, life that is breathed and spoken.

Father we ask that you would continue to show us your steadfast love and your righteousness. We only know you because you have known us. We are only upright in heart, because we dwell in Christ. Keep us Lord, from the arrogant one, and do not let the wicked drive us away from Your presence. Indeed, how could they for You are all places. All places are before Your face. And there the evil cannot stand. Wickedness and injustice have no strength in their knees. They collapse before you, unable to stand before you. They seek to use their borrowed strength to rise against you, but they cannot. In this truth we rest, knowing our cause will be heard, and our righteousness, which is Christ, will be upheld. Blessed by the Name of the Lord. And Amen.