God’s Steadfast Love – Psalm 36

“Every astronaut, everybody who’s been up into space, they say this, that it changes them, and they look at it and they’re kind of amazed and awestruck by the Earth and it beauty, but also by its fragility. And I can vouch for that.  It’s one thing to recognize that intellectually, it’s another thing to actually see with your own eyes how fragile it really is. And that was amazing.”  Those are the words of Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, after his first flight into space on July 20, 2021.  David says God’s steadfast love extends to the heavens and His faithfulness to the clouds.  He only saw it from the ground but he saw it was amazing.  And he knew that more than just intellectually.

To the choirmaster. Of David, the servant of the LORD.

Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.  For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.  The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.  He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.  Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.  They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

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 ESV)

There are those who oppose and seek to bring pain into the lives of others, people who tell themselves that there are no eternal consequences for their actions.  But those who know Yahweh know how immense His love and righteousness are toward us.  He is our refuge from the wicked, our protective host, the light that protects us from darkness and death.  We appeal to Him, therefore, to continue this relationship with us and to protect us from evildoers.  Even animals find salvation from Him.