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.

Excellence

May God give us a passion for excellence

• Success means being the best - Excellence means being your best

• Success, to many, means being better than everyone else - Excellence means being better tomorrow than you were yesterday

• Success means exceeding the achievements of other people - Excellence means matching your practice with your potential

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Excellence is attainable in any area of life and character, it is found in the details of all that we are and all that we do. Excellence is built upon the seemingly small details of every day decisions.

Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.

Booker T. Washington (1856 - 1915) US educator, social reformer


In the discussion of excellence, we must be careful not to confuse excellence with perfection—they are entirely different.

I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection,

Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God’s business.

Michael J. Fox

Perfection, fortunately, is not the only alternative to mediocrity.

A more sensible alternative is excellence.

Striving for excellence is stimulating and rewarding;

striving for perfection, in practically anything,

is both neurotic and futile.

Edwin Bliss

You can be born with talent that may lead to greatness, but people are rarely, if ever, born with excellence.  Excellence describes what we do with the talents, gifts and personality that we have been given.

Some people have greatness thrust upon them.

Very few have excellence thrust upon them.

John W. Gardner (1912 - 2002) US writer, government official

The reason for the truth in the quote above is that excellence must be worked into the gifts we have been given. We are not born with it, but excellence makes such a difference in our lives – more so than talent and gifting!

It breaks my heart to see men and women with excellent talent such as actors, professional sports personalities, politicians, artists, musicians, singers, etc. who negate or diminish their gifting because of poor life skills, appalling character and inexcusable behavior.

Real excellence and humility are not incompatible

On the contrary, they are twin sisters

Jean Baptiste Lacordaire

1 Cor. 2:1-2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Phil. 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

More on excellence: HERE