Psalm 36
“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.” (Psalm 36:9, ESV)
David begins this psalm meditating on the sinfulness of the wicked. There is no fear of God before his eyes. He flatters himself too much to detect his own sin. His words are perverse and deceitful. Even at night while lying in bed he plots a wicked course.
But then suddenly David pivots:
“Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.” (Psalm 36:5–6, NIV)
David’s answer to keep from being consumed with the sins of others is to meditate on the lovingkindness of the LORD. Is this a good strategy? Won’t wickedness prosper if we aren’t concerned and talk about it? When we come to a dark room, we can contemplate the darkness or we can turn on the light. David brought the love and light of the LORD into the room, and this overcame the darkness.
Emanating from the LORD is both a fountain of life and radiant light.
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4, NKJV)
We all need to drink living water from the fountain of life. Only this quenches the deep thirst of the soul.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37–38, NKJV)
John tells us that Jesus spoke this concerning the Holy Spirit. Are we drinking from this never-ending fountain of life? Are we being filled with the Spirit at all times? This is the source of love, joy and peace—the fruit of the Spirit. But it is also the light in which we walk. If we meditate on the darkness, then we cannot see nor detect our own faults. But if we walk in the light, then He will show us our hidden sins and lead us in the way of life.
“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, NKJV)
Let us come today as a thirsty soul and drink deeply from the fountain of life. Then let us turn from the darkness and consider His marvelous light. Finally, let us ask Him to reveal our hidden sins so that we may walk with Him in purity and love.