Psalms 36:4

_HE DEVISETH MISCHIEF UPON HIS BED; HE SETTETH HIMSELF IN A WAY THAT IS NOT GOOD; HE ABHORRETH NOT EVIL._ He deviseth ... his bed - even there, where one lies down for sleep, he cannot be quiet from restless plans of evil. IN A WAY THAT IS NOT GOOD; HE ABHORRETH NOT EVIL. His positive sins flow from his negative disobedience to God's direct precepts. Our safety against great sins is to set ourselves 'in a good way,' and to "abhor that which is evil." Compare Romans 12:9....

4._He meditates iniquity upon his bed _Here the sacred writer shows that the wickedness of the ungodly man is of a secret and very determined character. It sometimes happens that many, who otherwise are not disposed to wickedness, err and fall into sin, because occasion presents itself all on a sudden; but David tells us, that the wicked, even when they are withdrawn from the sight of men, and in retirement, form schemes of mischief; and thus, although there is not presented before them any temptation, or the evil example of others to excite them to it, they, of their own accord, devise mischief, and urge themselves to it without being impelled by any thing else. Since he describes the reprobate by this distinguishing mark of character, that _they devise mischief upon their beds, _true believers should learn from this to exercise themselves when alone in meditations of a different nature...

1-4 From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with hatred of sin, and seek satisfaction in God's loving-kindness. Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of wicked men comes. It takes rise from contempt of God, and the want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they put upon their own souls. Let us daily beg of God to preserve us from self-flattery. Sin is very hurtful to the sinner himself, and therefore ought to be hateful; but it is not so. It is no marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all mankind; to whom will they be true, who are false to their own souls? It is bad to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do it with plot and management. If we willingly banish holy meditations in our solitary hours, Satan will soon occupy our minds with sinful imaginations. Hardened sinners stand to what they have done, as though they could...

Verse Psalms 36:4. _HE DEVISETH MISCHIEF UPON HIS BED_] He seeks the silent and undisturbed watches of the night, in order to fix his plans of wickedness. _HE SETTETH HIMSELF_] Having laid his _plans_, he fixes his _purpose_ to do what is bad; and he does it without any checks of conscience or abhorrence of evil. He is bent only on mischief, and lost to all sense of God and goodness. A finished character of a perfect sinner....

HE DEVISETH MISCHIEF UPON HIS BED - Margin, as in Hebrew: “vanity.” That is, when he lies down; when he is wakeful at night; he plots some scheme of iniquity - some vain, wicked enterprise. So in Proverbs 4:16, “For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.” HE SETTETH HIMSELF - That is, he takes his stand or his position; he assumes this attitude. See Psalms 2:2, “The kings of the earth “set themselves,”” where the same word occurs. The meaning is that what is done by him is the result of a calm and deliberate purpose. It is not the effect of passion or temporary excitement, but it is a deliberate act in which the mind is made up to do the thing. The conduct here referre

EXPOSITION THIS short psalm is mainly didactic. It places in contrast the extreme wickedness of the wicked and the inexhaustible fulness of love, faithfulness, and righteousness which characterizes the God whom the wicked dare to offend. It ends with a brief but earnest intercessory prayer, that God will favour the righteous and protect them from the assaults of the ungodly, followed by an expression of confidence that the prayer will be granted. The psalm divides itself into three strophes, corresponding to the division of the subject-matter. Strophe 1. (Psalms 36:1) gives the portrait of the wicked man. Strophe 2. (Psalms 36:5) paints the Divine goodness. Strophe 3. ...

HE DEVISETH MISCHIEF UPON HIS BED,.... He casts about in his mind on his pillow, when at leisure from all employment; and consults and contrives schemes how to compass his lusts, and to do injury to others, without doing which he cannot sleep; HE SETTETH HIMSELF IN A WAY [THAT IS] NOT GOOD, in an evil way, which he chooses and delights in, and determines to continue in, he leaving the paths of righteousness to walk in the ways of darkness: HE ABHORRETH NOT EVIL; which is to be abhorred both because of its nature and effects; see Romans 12:9; but on the contrary he loves it, takes pleasure in doing it, and in them that commit it: thus, by his thoughts, words, and actions, he appears to be devoid of the fear of God....

Psalms 36 Contrasts _ 1. What the wicked is and does (Psalms 36:1)_ 2. What Jehovah is and does (Psalms 36:5) 3. Prayer and trust in His loving kindness (Psalms 36:10) The wicked are described in their wickedness, with sin in the heart, no fear of God; filled with pride and flattery, speaking evil and doing evil. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). This is the divine forecast for the last days and these opening verses of this psalm show the wicked of the l

XXXVI. We have here two Pss. or fragments of two Pss.: A, Psalms 36:1 and possibly Psalms 36:12, and B, Psalms 36:5. XXXVI. A. PSALMS 36:1. A denunciation of wicked Jews, who might well be in terror of Yahweh but are not. The general sense seems to be that as God inspires His prophets, so wickedness personified inspires sinners with a false confidence. The sinner thinks that he has made everything smooth for his own interests and need not fear that God will discover and hate his iniquity. PSALMS 36:1 F. The text is very doubtful. W

MISCHIEF. Hebrew. _'aven,_ as in Psalms 36:3, "iniquity". SETTETH HIMSELF. taketh his stand. EVIL. Hebrew. _ra'a"_. App-44....