Salmos 36
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 36
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS This Psalm describes the ungodly person in Ps. 36:1-4 and then the faithful follower in Ps. 36:7-9. YHWH is described in Ps. 36:5-6 by four powerful descriptive NOUNS. lovingkindness (see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS) faithfulness (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT) righteousness (see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS) judgments/justice (see SPECIAL TOPIC: JUSTICE) They describe YHWH and His covenant. These are how He wants His world to function! Psalm 36:10-12 offer concluding prayers for YHWH to help shield the godly from the influences of the godless. The downward pull of a fallen world (cf. Eph. 2:1; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND) fallen culture fallen acquaintances (cf. 1 Cor. 15:33) fallen self (cf. Eph. 2:3) Eph. 2:2; 4:2; 6:10-18 would also add Satan (i.e., see SPECIAL TOPIC: SATAN) who is strong, consistent, and pervasive. YHWH's character, word, and intervention are our only hope. Two unique word usages are found in this Psalm. evil personified (i.e., "transgression speaks"), Ps. 36:1 "house" refers to all creation or eschatological setting. See note at Ps. 36:8-9.
Salmos 36:1-4
36:1-4 These verses describe the ungodly (BDB 957). "Transgression" speaks to the ungodly within his (the UBS Text Project, p. 221, gives "of his heart" a "C" rating, Peshitta, NEB, NJB; LXX, MT, "my") heart (BDB 833 calls this "personified as evil spirit"). The VERB of transgression/rebellion is used in Ps. 37:38; 51:13; Isa. 43:27; 59:13; 66:24; Jer. 2:8,29; 3:13; 33:8, where it refers to transgression/rebellion among the covenant people. The psalmist lives among a people of unclean lips (cf. Isa. 6:5,9-10). There is no fear (i.e., terror, BDB 808) of God before their eyes. Fear of YHWH is admonished in Ps. 34:9; 55:19d (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FEAR). This verse is the concluding text quoted in the list of OT texts which assert the universal sinfulness of all mankind in Rom. 3:18. Either "personified transgression" or the godless person himself lies ("smooth talk," BDB 325, KB 322, Hiphil PERFECT) to himself about his own iniquity (cf. James 1:23-26). The words of his mouth (which reflects who he is) are wickedness (BDB 19) deceit (BDB 941) He has ceased to be wise (BDB 968, KB 1328, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) do good (BDB 405, KB 408, Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT He plans wickedness upon his bed (all the VERBS of Ps. 36:4 are IMPERFECTS, denoting ongoing action), cf. Prov. 4:16; Micah 2:1. He set himself on a path that is not good. Remember life is characterized as a path, road, way. Each of us must choose which path, cf. Deut. 30:15,19; Matt. 7:13-14. He does not despise evil (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY). Even covenant people are tested/tempted (i.e., personified rebellion) but they are still responsible for their choices and the consequences of those choices! SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD TESTS HIS PEOPLE (OT) 36:2 "the hatred of it" "when he hates" "out of hate" "he does not change" "or to hate them" "he be hated" "and hate" "give up his sin" The difference is how to divide the Hebrew CONSONANTS. לשׂנא = PREPOSITION plus "to hate" BDB 971, KB 1338, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT לא שׁנא = negative (לא) plus "to change" The UBS Text Project, p. 222, gives the first option an "A" rating. But, both make sense in this context.
Salmos 36:5-9
36:5-9 This strophe describes YHWH's character and actions toward His people. As the rebel chose and lived in light of his/her choices, so too, the faithful followers must continue to respond to YHWH's love. YHWH (see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.) is described as, Ps. 36:5-6 lovingkindness (BDB 338, i.e., covenant loyalty, cf. vv. 5,7; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS [HESED]) faithfulness (BDB 53, see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT); notice the parallelism between a. and b. righteousness (BDB 842, see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS) judgments (BDB 1048, see SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION, VI.) These are four powerful, recurrent attributes of YHWH. They characterize His dealings with humans. In light of these attributes humans and all life on this planet is preserved (BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil IMPERFECTS). Elohim created and sustains this planet, its people, its animals, and its plant life (cf. v. 6c, see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. #5). SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD [OT]) Faithful followers take refuge in the shadow of Your wings (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW AS METAPHOR FOR PROTECTION AND CARE) drink their fill of the abundance of Your house (see Contextual Insights, D or note at Ps. 36:8) have Your house as (1) the fountain of life, cf. Jer. 2:13; 17:13 (2) light (i.e., truth, health, joy, cf. Ps. 18:28; 27:1) 36:7 "O God! And the children of men" It is possible that "God" (Elohim; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. #3) here should/could refer to "leaders," or "judges," because it seems to parallel "man and beasts" (i.e., a category of two) in Ps. 36:6c. If so, then the two categories of humans referred to must be leaders (i.e., judges in Exod. 21:6; Ps. 82:6 or leaders in Ps. 29:1; 58:1) those led NEB, REB, TEV, and AB footnote have "Gods and men." 36:8 "Your house" In this context it does not refer to the temple but a recreated Eden (i.e., "delight," BDB 726, Ps. 36:8b) or eschatological setting (i.e., new age, cf. Ps. 46:4; Ezek. 47:1-12; Joel 3:18; Rev. 22:1-2). See John Walton's The Lost World of Genesis One: An Ancient Cosmology.
Salmos 36:10-12
36:10-12 This concluding strophe is a prayer by the psalmist to YHWH on behalf of the faithful followers (i.e., "to those who know You," see SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW). Continue – BDB 604, KB 645, Qal IMPERATIVE in Your lovingkindness in Your righteousness Do not let the foot of pride come upon me – BDB 97, KB 112, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense the hand of the wicked drive me away – BDB 626, KB 678, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense (see SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND) Let the wicked be fallen – BDB 656, KB 709, Qal PERFECT thrust down – BDB 190, KB 218, Qal PERFECT unable to rise – BDB 407, KB 410, Qal PERFECT (all three VERBS may refer to death and descent into Sheol) Note the consequences of faith (Ps. 36:7-8) and evil (Ps. 36:11-12). Choices have consequences!