Psalm 36vv5-10 notes

 The Lectionary suggests we concentrate on vv5-10 of this fascinating Psalm.

 

You’ll say, “O, Rector, can’t we have the whole Psalm, that would be so much better?”

And in a way I agree with you.

But actually I think there are more than enough ideas in vv5-10  for us to be going along with today.

We’ll be in danger of going over the 22 and half minute maximum regulation sermon length!

I’ve got ten pictures for you.

 

But if (you’re a reader) and you have the Psalm open in front of you, let’s just look at the context of our little section.

V1: “An orcacle… concerning the sinfulness of the wicked”

And you can see he comes back to them in vv11 and 12 in various ways:

The proud, the wicked again, and evildoers.

 

So this is a Psalm partly about bad people.

 

The overall message of the Psalm is to have nothing to do with wickedness or wrongdoing and these verses in the middle which we’re going to look at give us a happy positive alternative: the LORD God, his love, and goodness and kindness, as we’ll see.

You’re far better off sticking with the true and living God of the Bible and trusting him, being loyal to him, knowing him and seeking him.

 

So its nice for us to look at these verses today.

It’s worth us just remembering that this isn’t the whole story.

We know this is a broken world where lots of bad stuff happens.

And we’ll have to talk more about that another day.

But for today look at v5 with me will, you?

 

This is wonderful, marvellous stuff.

 

He’s talking to God:

 

(1)   Heavens / skies (v5)

 

God’s love v5, v7, v10

 

So God’s love is the major theme of this section

 

hesed, faithful covenant love

 

And its worth us just remembering that in Hebrew poems or songs like this they love to say similar things twice.

(Like we love poems that rhyme, they love ones that kind of repeat or vary or sort of riff off the same stuff again, maybe with a change)

(Parallelism – of different types)

(2)   Mountains (v6)

(3)   The deep (v6)

(4)   Humans and beasts (v6)

(5)   Priceless (v7)

(6)   High and low among people find refuge in the shadow of your wings (v7)

(7)   Feast in the abundance of your house (v8)

(9)   Fountain of life (v9)

(10) Light (v9)

 

Will you not take refuge under the wings of this God?

Will you not look to him?

Will you drink the water of life which he gives?

Will you not be refreshed and sustained by him?

Enjoy him and his good gifts?

Receive his love.

Look to his justice.

 I think we know how we ought to respond to these things don’t we?

 Thanks, praise, trust, loyalty.

 Running away from all wickedness.

Neither fearing or trusting the wicked.

 Hesed – covenant loyalty

Love him a little in return.

Or at least pray that our cold hearts might love him more.

 

Full all age sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVhF00cVlOw Reading from about 10:25; Sermon: 12:30