Psalm 36: The Fountain of the Lord's Love
I FIND LOVE difficult to talk about. For one thing, my need for love is embarrassing. When I acknowledge that I need love, it means that I am not complete in myself. To receive love, I must look to someone else. To make matters worse, I find that my need for love is inexhaustible. Yesterday's love is not enough for today.
Our need for love means we need people—friends, spouses, family members. However, our need for love is such that even if all those people loved us perfectly, we still wouldn't have enough love to meet our need. David celebrates the good news that God's supply of love is more than sufficient. God's love reaches to the heavens and has more substance than the biggest mountains.
Warming Up to God
Consider how open you are to receiving love from God, your family, friends and fellow Christians. Ask God to soften your heart as you prepare to spend time in his Word. Give over to God any hardening factors that you can discern.
Read Psalm 36. »
Discovering the Word
- Describe the character of a wicked person from verses 1-4.
- Describe the dynamics of a wicked person's relationship to God.
- What decisions does a wicked person make that lead to a sinful life (vv. 2-4)?
- David observes that there is no fear of the Lord before the eyes of the wicked. From verses 5-9, what is it that they are blind to?
- Initially David seems to jump without transition from musing on the wicked to writing on the love of God. However, in verses 10-12 he ties the two themes together. What do these verses tell you about David's experiences?
Applying the Word
- We all have sinful thoughts from time to time. The wicked, however, do not reject such thoughts. Instead they choose to entertain them and then make a commitment to act upon them. What are some thoughts you have chosen to reject recently because you knew they were wrong?
- Consider your own ability to accept the Lord's love and his benefits. What hesitations do you have that the Lord loves you?
- What would have to happen for you to be more open to his love?
Responding in Prayer
After you have done that, give thanks to God that he has been so active in helping you choose what is right. If you find that you have let some ungodly ideas settle in your heart, reject them now and ask God to cleanse and redirect your thinking patterns.
For Further Study
God's Love by Ruth Ann Ridley