August 29, 2023 -- Psalm 36:10-12 -- The Psalm Series: Prayer and warning

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
There the evildoers lie fallen;
they are thrust down, unable to rise.
Psalm 36:10-12 ESV

Psalm 36 has three parts and today’s reading is from the final movement of the psalm. It is a prayer that the steadfast love, the covenant love, the never-ending faithful love of the LORD would be extended ever more fully into the life of the believer. Such love flooding the life and the soul of the believer would work to displace evil. Such love would draw the believer closer to the Living God and enable him resist temptation because sins and wickedness would be shown to be hideous and the pathway to destruction.

Notice how much of this final section of the psalm focuses on the need for believers to pray for God’s protection over their lives. Sin and wickedness and pride are pervasive. It is easy to get caught up in such things and be swept away by them. The believer rehearses the judgment of God—they are thrust down—as a warning to himself to stay the course and remain true to the LORD Whose steadfast love is directing the course of his life. This whole psalm, like so many of them, is meant to be sung by the congregation as a prayer for God's protection

Unbelievers plant themselves in the middle of churches. Wicked people hide in plain sight in churches and among the people of the Living God. Jesus taught as much in the New Testament. The history of Israel proves this in the Old. The people of the LORD must constantly confess their sins, turn away from them, and seek shelter in the arms of the Living God.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. With You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. By the light of the Spirit and Word we understand our profound and constant need for Jesus' life-giving work which brings us to the steadfast love of our Father in heaven. Mighty God, continue Your steadfast love to those who know You. Amen.
(the prayer is based on verses 9 and 10 of Psalm 36)

https://youtu.be/DxQx2xZPC5M?si=-9TAeYG2G2GHhPwG “Take Shelter” Gettys and Skye Peterson

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