“For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12:14
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
I recently went white-water rafting, and we had a large group with us. One part of the group was four young men from Israel. We learned a bit about their background while we traveled. These young men were all in a gap year. Some had recently finished secondary schooling. One had finished college. All had finished their mandatory military service. They now wanted to experience the world before they settled into their life.
While one of our teammates was talking with them, they asked, “are you evangelical?”. Then, the follow up, “do you think we are going to Hell?”. After more discussion we learned that the young men were supposedly atheist — their own question seemed to betray that claim. Yet I found it interesting that they had any concern at all about what we thought of their future destination.
I was immediately reminded of Romans 1:18
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”. We didn’t change their minds that day, but the experience stayed with me.
In Psalm 36, David contrasts the path of the lost versus the way of God. First, we learn of the wicked. Amazingly, his inner guide is his own sin. It flatters him, and he doesn’t see it as evil. What he thinks he knows and thus believes then comes forth in action. In verse 3, “words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit”, and “he has ceased to be wise and to do good”. All his plans set him on the path of destruction.
Why is this? Where did he go wrong? In verse 1, “there is no fear of God before his eyes”. Proverbs 22 says “the reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life”.
David then contrasts this lost man with who God is. Contrast brings clarity, and we can see clearly the way of the wise. Look at how God is described. His lovingkindness extends eternally. It never fails. His faithfulness in verse 5, reaches to the skies. It never ends. His righteousness is like the very mountain of God. The size and enormity cannot be ascertained. His judgments are as vast as the limitless ocean.
His children can take refuge under his wings. They have an abundance of life in Him. They drink of the river of his delights. It flows and never ends.
Then what does the wise do in light of this truth? Verse 10, we seek that God would continue all that He is to us. And with humility, we ask in verse 11, “Let not the foot of pride come upon me”. Don’t let me foolishly seek to live this life on my own. Lest “the hand of the wicked drive me away”. Because that way lies destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).
Father, help us today to seek your way, your wisdom. Let not pride come upon us. You have the words of eternal life.
In Him,
