Saturday in the Psalms (Psalm 36)

Psalm 36 (ESV)

How Precious Is Your Steadfast Love

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the Lord.

36 Transgression speaks to the wicked
    deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God
    before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
    that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
    he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed;
    he sets himself in a way that is not good;
    he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    man and beast you save, O Lord.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
    and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie fallen;
    they are thrust down, unable to rise.

It has been a long time since I have known someone, who I thought to be truly wicked...someone who had no problem committing evil acts. The truth is that all sin is evil...anything that goes against God and His ways. Why is it we have developed levels of evil? Is it that we might make our own sin look less sinful? We like to use language that speaks of the varying levels of consequence as though the sins themselves don't deserve quite so much punishment. Indeed that is how our legal system works and how it should work. The punishment is designed to fit the crime. In God's law, there is only one level of crime and that crime is called sin. For sin there is only one punishment and that punishment is eternal damnation/separation. There are no varying levels of either. However, there is ONE method of pardon. Pardon it seems would cost more than most could pay. In fact, it costs more than any of us can pay. Without it, we are no less than evil. Within it, we are no less than free...no strings attached. Full and free, we can feast on the abundance of His house and drink from the river of His delights. Let us be cautious about arrogance and thinking more of ourselves than we ought. Except for grace...grace, grace, God's grace...we are all the same.