March 7

Contrast

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 36:1-12 | Numbers 8:1 – 9:23 | Mark 13:14-37 | Proverbs 10:29-30

Today’s Scripture Focus:  Psalm 36

“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep” (Psalm 36:5, 6 NIV).

The psalmist begins by giving us a message about the sinfulness of the wicked, but soon finds himself awestruck by the ultimate contrast: the glory of God.

The wicked person is described as one with whom there is no fear of God before their eyes. In other words, they live without the reverent awe that one should rightly have of God. Instead, pride is their fall: “in their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.”

The heart of the wicked infected by pride leads to deceitful and wicked speech; and the folly of sinful ways.  

In complete contrast, stands the character of God in the splendor of his holiness.  

“Your love, LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep.”

Therefore those who love God can take refuge in “the shadow of your wings” and “feast on the abundance of your house.”  The righteous can drink at the river of delights. He is the fountain of life, and in His light, we see light.

Meditating on the greatness of God refreshes the psalmist. His concerns about the wicked begin to melt away in the beauty of God’s righteous character. He has found a place of refuge from the hand of the wicked. Surely God will bring protection. Surely God in his justice will do what is right with the wicked.

Sometimes we, too, are concerned about the evil of this world—sometimes hurt by wicked actions or deceitful speech. In those times, we run to the one who is faithful and find refuge in the shadow of his wings.

Lord, thank you for your love which extends to the heavens, your faithfulness which reaches to the skies, your righteousness which is like the highest mountains, and your justice which is like the great deep. Help me to live in your presence and experience afresh your loving character. Amen.