Psalm 36

Scripture

Psalm 36:5-6

5 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

Observation-What does it say?

King David’s Psalm opens with a message about the sinfulness of the wicked. He then speaks to the love and faithfulness of the Lord and petitions the Lord to continue His love towards those who KNOW Him. 

Understanding-What does it mean?

God’s love is what drives us to action.

God’s love, not punishment, is what drives us to action. Even His discipline is from a place of love (please see Hebrews 12:4-13). Loving discipline leads to a trusting relationship with whoever is doing the disciplining. If you are a parent, you understand this. Everything the Lord does is from a place of love and His goodness. Relying on His love means security in a loving, faithful God who will continue to keep us safe. It definitely opposes a life of sin and wickedness; it opposes a life and heart that does NOT know the Lord, which eventually leads to death. 

Life Application 

Obey what the Holy Spirit tells us to do from a place of love, not fear. 

About a year and a half ago, our daughters accepted Jesus’ invitation for salvation. However, our daughters were fearful about getting baptized, (which is the next step of obedience) because of being dunked in the water and people looking at them. I encouraged them not to do it if they were afraid. I encouraged them to do it from a place of love and obedience and to pray to the Lord for what He would want them to do. Long story short, the Lord worked in their little hearts and they were baptized on Dec. 23rd, 2018!

If Jesus cares about little children and can change their hearts and turn their fear into obedience and excitement, how much more can His love transform our hearts to obey what He calls us to do? Not just obey, but be excited about it!

So what is He calling you to do in obedience that you are fearful of? Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Getting baptized? Returning 10% of your income back to Him or if already a tither, being more generous and giving above the tithe? Leaving a relationship that is making you compromise your faith? Helping and serving people at the church? Sharing the Gospel with someone you’ve been praying for? 

Be encouraged by His love and obey not from a place of fear, but of love. 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19 NIV

 

"In face, this is love for God: to keep his commands.  And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."  1 John 5: 3-4

 

Dear Lord, You know each of our hearts and what makes us fearful. I pray that as we grab hold of Your limitless love for us that we would step out in faith and obedience into all You have called us to do and become. Amen. 

-Please listen to this worship song “Your love Oh Lord” by Third Day. It is based on the Scripture passage chosen. https://youtu.be/0OBRvxrzhqs

-Michelle Gaddi