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Psalm 36 | King James Audio Bible
YouTube Video: Psalm 36 KJV | Word Aloud | King James Audio Bible
Psalm 36 explores the stark contrast between human wickedness and the boundless lovingkindness of God. Attributed to King David, the psalm reflects upon the moral state of humanity and affirms divine attributes of mercy and righteousness.
Recognition of Human Wickedness: Psalm 36 begins by acknowledging the transgressions of the wicked, highlighting their lack of fear of God (Psalm 36:1 KJV). The psalm describes how the wicked flatter themselves and engage in deceit and iniquity, ultimately leading to a harmful path (Psalm 36:2-4 KJV). This recognition of human frailty and moral failing sets the stage for the contrast with God’s attributes.
Divine Attributes of God: The psalm extols the virtues of God. It portrays God’s mercy as reaching the heavens and His faithfulness extending to the clouds (Psalm 36:5 KJV). God’s righteousness is compared to great mountains, and His judgments are described as a profound, unfathomable deep (Psalm 36:6 KJV). These metaphors highlight the exalted and unchanging nature of God’s character.
The Shelter of God’s Wings: Psalm 36 emphasizes the refuge and security found in God’s lovingkindness. The psalmist likens God’s sheltering care to the shadow of His wings (Psalm 36:7 KJV), conveying a sense of safety and comfort for believers in their relationship with God.
Abundance and Satisfaction: The psalm promises that those who trust in God will be abundantly satisfied with the blessings of His house (Psalm 36:8 KJV). The psalm speaks of drinking from the river of God’s pleasures, symbolizing spiritual nourishment and fulfillment found in God’s presence.
The Fountain of Life: Psalm 36 declares God as the fountain of life (Psalm 36:9 KJV). In God’s light, humanity is said to see light. This metaphor underscores that God is the source of all life and enlightenment.
A Prayer for Continued Blessings: The psalm concludes with a prayer for the continuation of God’s lovingkindness and righteousness to those who know Him and have upright hearts (Psalm 36:10 KJV). The psalm petitions for protection against pride and the hand of the wicked (Psalm 36:11 KJV).
The Triumph of Righteousness: The final verse asserts the downfall of the workers of iniquity, affirming that they will not rise (Psalm 36:12 KJV). This underscores triumph of righteousness over wickedness.
Psalm 35 | King James Audio Bible KJV | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
Key Themes Of The Psalm For Reflection | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
- Recognition of Human Wickedness:
- Psalm 36 opens with a candid acknowledgment of the transgressions of the wicked. It highlights that they lack the fear of God in their hearts (Psalm 36:1 KJV). This theme serves as a stark reminder of the moral imperfections and sinful tendencies that characterize human nature.
- Divine Attributes of God (Mercy, Faithfulness, Righteousness):
- The psalm extensively celebrates the attributes of God. It portrays God’s mercy as vast as the heavens and His faithfulness as reaching the clouds (Psalm 36:5 KJV). The imagery of God’s righteousness compared to great mountains and His judgments as a profound, unfathomable deep emphasizes the unchanging and exalted nature of God (Psalm 36:6).
- Shelter of God’s Wings:
- An evocative metaphor is used in Psalm 36:7, describing God’s sheltering care as the shadow of His wings. This imagery conveys a sense of refuge and security, portraying God as a protective and nurturing presence in the lives of believers.
- Abundance and Satisfaction in God:
- The psalm assures those who trust in God that they will be abundantly satisfied with the blessings of His house (Psalm 36:8 KJV). It speaks of drinking from the river of God’s pleasures, symbolizing spiritual nourishment and fulfillment found in His presence. This theme underscores the idea that true satisfaction comes from a relationship with God.
- God as the Fountain of Life:
- Psalm 36 declares God as the fountain of life (Psalm 36:9 KJV). This metaphor signifies that all life and enlightenment emanate from God. It implies that apart from God, there is spiritual barrenness and darkness.
- Prayer for Continued Blessings:
- The psalm concludes with a prayer for the continuation of God’s lovingkindness and righteousness to those who know Him and have upright hearts (Psalm 36:10 KJV). It is a plea for the ongoing presence and guidance of God in the lives of the faithful.
- Triumph of Righteousness:
- The final verse asserts the downfall of the workers of iniquity, affirming that they will not rise (Psalm 36:12 KJV). This theme highlights the ultimate triumph of righteousness over wickedness, conveying the message that those who rely on God’s righteousness will prevail.
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Christian Art | Our Lord Jesus On The Cross | God The Father | God The Son Office Of Readings | Advent December 23rd | A Reading From The Treatise Of Saint Hippolytus Against The Heresy Of Noetus | The Hidden Sacrament Is Revealed ‘The hidden sacrament is revealed.’ In this reading, Saint Hippolytus writes against the Noetic heresy, which denied the real distinction between the Father and the Son by treating them as the same person acting under different names. The purpose of Saint Hippolytus is to defend the Church’s confession of one God who is not solitary, but who exists with his Word and Spirit. Hippolytus begins by setting a principle: knowledge of God comes from the Holy Scriptures, not from speculation or private reasoning. Faith is not shaped by human preference but by what God has chosen to reveal. The Father determines how He is believed, the Son how He is glorified, and the Spirit how He is received. This establishes Scripture as the rule of faith and guards against theological invention. Hippolytus then affirms that God existed alone before creation, with nothing co-eternal alongside Him. At the same time, God was not without reason, wisdom, or power. Hippolytus insists that plurality within God does not compromise divine unity. God contains within himself Word, wisdom, and counsel. Creation begins when God wills and manifests His Word. The Word is not created from nothing but proceeds from God and acts as the agent of creation. The Word is first invisible to the created world, though known to God. When God chooses, He makes the Word visible, described as ‘Light of Light’. This language safeguards both distinction and unity: the Word comes from God and reveals God, without being separate from Him. The manifestation of the Word is ordered towards salvation, so that the world may see and be saved. Hippolytus identifies this Word clearly with the Son of God. Through him all things were made, and he alone comes forth from the Father. The Law and the prophets belong to the same saving plan. God speaks through them by the Holy Spirit, so that they proclaim not their own ideas but the Father’s will. Revelation is therefore coherent: creation, prophecy, and incarnation belong to one divine purpose. Hippolytus appeals to the Gospel of John to show continuity between prophecy and fulfilment. The Word spoken of by the prophets is the Word made flesh. Though the world was made through him, it failed to recognise him. This failure does not negate God’s plan but reveals the depth of the mystery now disclosed. A Reading From The Treatise Of Saint Hippolytus Against The Heresy Of Noetus | The Hidden Sacrament Is Revealed There is, brethren, one God, the knowledge of whom we gain from the Holy Scriptures and from no other source. Whatever things the Holy Scriptures declare, at these let us look; and whatever they teach, let us learn it; and as the Father wills our belief to be, let us believe; and as he wills the Son to be glorified, let us glorify him; and as he wills the Holy Spirit to be bestowed, let us receive him. Not according to our own will, nor according to our own mind, nor yet storming by force the things which are given by God, but even as he has chosen to teach them by the Holy Scriptures, so let us discern them. God, subsisting alone, and having nothing coeval with himself, chose to create the world. And conceiving the world in mind, and willing and uttering the Word, he made it; and at once it appeared, formed it in the way he desired. For us it is sufficient simply to know that nothing was coeval with God. Outside him there was nothing; but he, while existing alone, yet existed in plurality. For he did not lack reason, or wisdom, or power, or counsel. All things were in him, and he was the All. At a time and in a manner chosen by him he made his Word manifest, and through his Word he made all things. He bears this Word in himself, as yet invisible to the created world. He makes him visible, uttering the voice first, and begetting him as Light of Light. He presents him to the world as its Lord; and whereas the Word was visible formerly to God alone, and invisible to the world which is made, God makes the Word visible in order that the world might see him and be able to be saved. This is the mind which came forth into the world and was manifested as the Son of God. All things came into being through him, and he alone comes from the Father. He gave us the Law and the prophets; and in giving them, he made them speak by the Holy Ghost, in order that, receiving the inspiration of the Father’s power, they might declare the Father’s counsel and will. Thus, then, was the Word made manifest, even as the blessed John says. 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