Psalm 36: Man's Wickedness - God's Perfection

In Psalm 36, there are 6 verses that describe man’s wickedness (verses 1-4; 11-12) and then 6 verses that describe God’s perfections (vs. 6-10). There are 13 descriptions of man’s wickedness, and 14 accounts of God’s perfections.

The number 13 in the bible represents rebellion and lawlessness. Nimrod, the mighty hunter who was 'before the Lord' (meaning he tried to take the place of God - Genesis 10:9), was the 13th in Ham's line (Ham was one of Noah's three sons who survived the flood). Thirteen represents all the governments created by men, and inspired by Satan, in outright rebellion against the Lord. The dragon, a symbol for Satan, is found 13 times in Revelation. Satan is behind all rebellion against God.

The number 14 in the bible represents deliverance and salvation. It is also a double of the number 7, which represents completion. In the verses of this Psalm that describe God’s perfection, there are 14 pronouns: (Your, You).

Here are the 13 descriptions of man’s wickedness:

The wicked man has no fear of God

The wicked man flatters himself

The wicked man loves to sin

The wicked man hates others

The wicked man speaks deceitfully

The wicked man turns from wisdom

The wicked man turns from goodness

The wicked man plots evil through the night

The wicked man walks in evil

The wicked man loves what God hates

The wicked man crushes others with their pride

The wicked man pushes people around

The wicked man falls down and is unable to rise again

Here are the 14 descriptions of God perfections:

God’s mercy is as vast as the heavens

God’s faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds

God’s righteousness is as powerful as the mountains

God’s justice is as deep as the oceans

God’s care extends to every man and creature

God’s love is precious and unfailing

God’s shelter under His wings is secure

God’s provision is abundant
God's drink springs from His hand

God’s pleasures flow like a river

God’s life pours out like a fountain

God’s light gives us light for our eyes

God’s kindness extends to all who know Him 
God’s virtue covers the upright in heart

The number 14 also represents David - the numerics of his name add up to 14: D_V_D represent the numbers 4+6+4=14. David was the 14th generation from Abraham. Then there were another 14 generations to babylon and another 14 generations to Jesus (Matt. 1:1-17). Jesus is the Divine King who is descended from David.

The Lord Surrounds Us...

It seems to me that the Lord surrounds us with these things:

-The favor of the Lord surrounds His people and makes a shield of protection completely around their lives: Ps. 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

-There are songs of deliverance (plural) that surround every Believer - these songs dig us out of trouble, keep us on track and make a place for us to hide - what a God!! Have you ever stopped to listen to God's songs over you? Ps. 32:7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

- The mercy of the Lord surrounds all who trust in Him - Ps. 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

- The Lord surrounds Jerusalem and all of His people - so much so that He is like a mighty mountain in His strength and protection. Let it be noted that His surrounding is forever. It is not going away - just as the mountains are secure and stable - Ps. 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.

- The Lord has made sure that we are surrounded by the righteous - those who will stand with us to help and encourage us in faith - Ps. 143:7 Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”

- There are countless Believers who have gone to glory ahead of us - these surround us as a testimony to God unfailing love and enormous grace - Heb. 12:1 [ The Race of Faith ] Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

The Lord is surrounded by these two things:

- He is surrounded by His faithfulness - Ps. 89:8 O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You

- He is surrounded by clouds and darkness - Ps. 89:8 Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

God's Faithfulness - Psalm 89

I was reading Psalm 89 today - in this psalm, there are 6 declarations of God's faithfulness, and I claim them for your life and mine:

v1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.

The Lord wants us to to keep going in the things He has called us to - keep declaring his great faithfulness to all - young and old. rich and poor. His faithfulness comes out of our mouths! Sing and speak of His great faithfulness!

v2 For I have said, "Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens."

God's faithfulness reaches to the heavens - everything from earth to the rest of the universe is dripping with the touch of God. He is seen in us, through us and in everything He has created. His faithfulness is faithful!

v 5 And the heavens will praise Your wonders, O Lord, Your faithfulness also in the assembly of the saints

He wants us to declare His faithfulness to one another - let people hear what great things He has done and boast in Him.

v8 O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds you.

Everywhere God goes, and every part of Him is clothed in faithfulness - Surely, He has surrounded us with His faithfulness as we are His dwelling place.

v26 But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him and in my name his horn shall be exalted (NLT …and by My authority he will grow in power)

The Lord spoke this over David, but He also speaks it over each of us today - Because of His faithfulness and mercy working in our lives, He is able to trust us with his power and authority. As we live in mercy, faithfulness and under His authority, the power of the Lord will grow in us!

v33 Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail (NLT But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him.)

The Lord is speaking of His faithful covenant with us - it cannot be taken from us - His love will never fail and His promises will last forever.

One more verse really jumped out at me as I also read this psalm from the Message Bible:

v 15 - 18  Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.

Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do - they can't keep it quiet!

Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us - you've been so good to us! We're walking on air!

All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!

Oh my goodness!! Is that wonderful or what!!?? We are blessed when we know the passwords of praise that open up a parade of God's presence throughout the land. I want to be a part of that parade! This parade is God on display in, and through us wherever we go! When we know His presence we can't keep it quiet. Also, His vibrant beauty has gotten inside us - we are consumed with Him and all else fades in comparison. How good He is to us - how wonderfully good.

How good He is - what favor He grants us all right now!

Thank You Father!! Let's just worship!

7 Things - Reaching The Heavens

I love to meditate on God's goodness and character reaching as far as the heavens. The Psalmists that wrote these words had never flown in planes or seen camera footage from lofty heights. The concept of being up in the clouds was far beyond anything they could imagine. 

This is a picture of the vastness of God's mercy - beyond anything we can imagine!

Here are 7 things that reach the clouds or the heavens - it is interesting that His mercy is mentioned in so many of these verses, and it is His mercy and glory that go even beyond the heavens:

• God's glory is above the heavens - Ps. 8:1 O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! (Ps. 113:4; 148:13)

• God's judgments are far above - out of sight - Ps. 10:5 His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

• God's faithfulness reaches the clouds - Psalm 36:5 Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

• God's truth reaches the clouds - Ps 57:10  ...His mercy reaches to the heavens – His truth to the clouds

• God's mercy reaches above the heavens - Ps. 108:4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the clouds. (Ps. 103:11)

• God's wonders are in the heavens - Acts 2:19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

The final one of these seven is the greatest of them all - 

• God's Son, Jesus, is far above all the heaves - Eph. 4:10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

Psalm 103:11

As high as the heavens are above the earth

that is how vast His mercy is

towards those who fear (worship, obey) Him.

The Anointing 5

The next ingredient in the Holy anointing oil is 250 shekels of sweet cinnamon—

($64.73)

Cinnamon has two meanings in Hebrew – jealous and burning zeal

Cinnamon is an evergreen tree – that means it passes through no seasons of death. Ps 1:3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Cinnamon represents:

 — a zealous Believer who goes from strength to strength in faithfulness, endurance and consistency

— the fragrance of the world…or Jesus being fully man and becoming glorious in His humanity.

— cinnamon was used as a medicine. When we learn secrets of endurance and faithfulness we will be made whole on the inside, and we will be healers of others.

 Ex 30:23 Cinnamon is typical of the fragrance of the life of Christ before His Father

Burning zeal; faithfulness and consistency; to stand upright - 1Cor. 4:2; Gal 4:18

Standing upright in physical strength

Jesus was zealous and faithful as a youth – Luke 2:42-52

He is the “Faithful One” 1Thess. 5:24; 2Thess. 3:3; 2Tim. 2:13; Rev. 19:11

He had anointing and favor through service

How Do We Find Cinnamon In Our Lives?

Ps. 1:3—Be planted by rivers of water

Ps. 84:5-7—Base your strength in Him and you will go from strength to strength

Rev. 3:18—Buy your gold/anointing from the Lord

Gal. 5:22—Eat and live the fruit of the Spirit

Anointing 1: HERE
Anointing 6: HERE