Psalm 36 | Spiritual Refugees
Where do you run when the world feels hostile and unsafe?
In a world where wickedness still exists, we desperately need God’s steadfast love to guard us. Psalm 36 presents one of Scripture’s starkest contrasts: the character of the wicked versus the character of God. This is a psalm for the weary and worried, for those who wonder if goodness will prevail, and for those who need to remember that our hope rests secure not only in the defeat of evil, but in the overwhelming goodness of who God is.
Verses 1-4
“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 can’t 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.
If you have ever planted seeds in a garden, you understand that a seed won’t always produce a healthy plant. Certain elements must be present for a plant to thrive: the right climate, light, air, nutrient-rich soil, water, and sufficient space to grow. The same is true for sin.
The seeds of sin are within every human heart. But for these seeds to produce fruit, they must be nourished and tended. The apostle James 1:14-15 further describes this gestation process: “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” This can be true of all of us. Sin whispers to us in the depths of our hearts, wooing us, luring us, and appealing to our desires.
We all sin—whether out of weakness, woundedness, or willfulness. However, the Bible sometimes distinguishes between sins of ignorance and sins of insolence. In Psalm 36, the psalmist establishes a contrast between the wicked, whose hearts are bent toward willful rebellion, and God, whose heart is bent toward righteousness and steadfast love.
In verses 1-4, the psalmist describes the elements that enable sin to grow and mature. The psalmist personifies sin, saying that it “speaks to the wicked deep in his heart.” The heart of the wicked is an incubator for sin; it provides the ideal conditions for that sin to take root, grow, and produce bad fruit. And it starts with how they view God: they have no fear of God. Where in many verses fear of God means a reverent fear in the face of God’s majesty and awe, in this verse, it implies dread or great terror. The wicked have no fear of God’s holiness, judgment, or righteousness. They are self-governed, their own authority.
When the fear of God is absent, sin spreads like an invasive weed in the hearts of the wicked. They are: hostile to God and the things of God; self-deceived and arrogant; full of lies, duplicity, and betrayal. They willfully and intentionally stir up chaos and trouble, plotting and scheming even as they lie in bed at night, all the while believing they will not be held accountable for their actions. And as if to put an exclamation point on it, David says that they have not only stopped doing good, but they also “make no attempt to turn from evil” (NLT).
In Psalm 1, the psalmist contrasts the wicked and the righteous; however, here the psalm shifts its focus to the character of God.
Verses 5-6
“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.”
Three attributes of God’s character are on display here: steadfast love, righteousness, and justice. God’s hesed—a robust word that means steadfast love, loving kindness, faithfulness, goodness—is limitless, extending beyond what our eyes can see or our minds can imagine. His tsdaqah—a word that encompasses his goodness, righteousness, and fairness—is as immovable, firm, and strong as the mountains. And his mishpat—his governance and judgments toward us—which flow from his steadfast love and righteousness, are like the oceans, deep, mysterious, and overwhelming. Whereas the heart of the wicked is full of malice, ill intentions, and all manner of hatred, God is full of justice, righteousness, and steadfast love.
We who live in this ever-connected technological age can all too easily miss encountering God as he reveals himself to us through his created world. Our screens blind us to the brilliance of the night sky; our notifications pile higher than the mountains. This inhumane pace of life disconnects us from our bodies and deadens the very senses God gave us to experience his goodness in tangible ways.
We rarely slow down long enough when reading Scripture or contemplating God to allow our sanctified imaginations to broaden our understanding and experience of the Lord. When was the last time you lingered beneath an expansive night sky? When did you last sit by the ocean long enough to hear its deep roar as its waves crashed against the shore? David isn’t merely using poetic language; he’s anchoring spiritual truths in physical reality. The psalmist invites us to experience God’s awesomeness not only through his revealed word, but also his revealed world. God’s love is as real and vast as the heavens. His righteousness is as solid and immovable as the mountains.
What a beautiful, powerful picture of God’s posture toward us, all of which rightly leads David to worship in reverent awe.
Verses 7-9
“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.”
When David pauses to consider God’s character, expressed clearly through his steadfast love, he is overwhelmed. It is not just what God does, but who God is, that David regards as precious and of great value. Because God is steadfast love, his children can run to him to find refuge. In his house, they not only find what they need, but they are also abundantly satisfied with more than they could have ever asked for or imagined. They feast on his goodness and generosity and drink from him, a river flowing with joy and delight.
If you’ve never lived in a war zone or experienced homelessness, the idea of refuge may not be relatable. However, if you grew up feeling vulnerable, experienced scarcity, or lacked security, having refuge is significant. Refugees—those who flee to escape danger—often lack what so many of us take for granted: shelter, food, water, safety, protection, and rest. While we may not be refugees who are fleeing corrupt governments, war-torn countries, or religious persecution, we are spiritual refugees. We are foreigners living in a world still affected by sin, full of those who have rejected God and are bent on evil. But he has not left us without refuge. We can flee to him, entrusting ourselves to his loving, tender care. We can drink deeply of the life that flows from him, and we can trust that his illuminating presence will shine as our guiding light in a dark world.
Verses 10-12
“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.”
Reflecting on the character of God leads David into a posture of dependent prayer. He understands that he lives between a physical reality where wickedness exists and poses a real threat and a spiritual reality where the character of God outshines even the darkest of evils. So he flees to God as his refuge through prayer—praying that God would continue to pour out his steadfast love and righteousness on those who know and follow him. And he prays that God would protect him specifically from the wicked schemes of those who are hostile to God and the things of God.
The world David inhabited is no different from ours today. We, too, live as refugees in a world where those who have rejected God and ceased to do good threaten our safety, security, peace, and rest. But! We also live as citizens of heaven, where the God of steadfast love provides us with an unshakeable refuge. The question is: will we cower in fear or will we follow David, turning our gaze from the schemes of the wicked to the steadfast love of God?
David’s experience of God did not always spare him from suffering, but it did ground him in something transcendent—the truth that, no matter what the wicked plot and scheme, those who seek refuge in God will be preserved and wickedness will come to an end. We who live now have even more reason to flee to the Lord than David, because the God who did not spare his own son has already proven the extent of his steadfast love, righteousness, and justice. His love for us cannot be shaken, moved, or uprooted; nor can it be thwarted by any wicked scheme. This is a God we can run to and find refuge, just as a chick finds refuge under the shadow of its mother’s wings.
Questions for Reflection
Engage the Scripture
Read Psalm 36 slowly, twice. What words or phrases stand out to you? Why do you think these particular words caught your attention?
Verses 1-4 and James 1:14-15 describe how sin “speaks” to the wicked and takes root in their hearts. How does this personification of sin help you understand its power and progression?
David shifts from describing wickedness (vv. 1-4) to describing and worshiping God (vv. 5-9). What does this teach us about how to respond when confronted with evil?
Explore Your Story
The reflection mentions that “sin whispers to us in the depths of our hearts, wooing us, luring us.” When are you most vulnerable to sin’s whisper? What desires does it appeal to in your life?
When was the last time you truly experienced refuge—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual? What did that safety feel like? What did it provide that you were lacking?
The piece describes us as “spiritual refugees” living in a world affected by sin. In what specific ways do you feel like a refugee? Where do you long for safety, rest, or protection?
Encounter the Savior
Jesus is our ultimate refuge. In what areas of your life do you need to “flee to him” right now? What keeps you from running to this refuge?
Verse 9 says, “In your light do we see light.” How has Christ illuminated your understanding of God, yourself, or your circumstances? Where do you need his light to shine today?
The psalmist uses vivid imagery from creation, such as heavens, mountains, oceans, to describe God’s character. Choose one image and sit with it for a while. What does this reveal about God that you might have overlooked before? What comfort does it bring?
Experience Shalom
The reflection ends with the image of a chick finding refuge under its mother’s wings. Imagine yourself in that position—small, vulnerable, but completely safe. What would change in your life if you truly believed you were that secure in God’s care?
This week, what is one practical way you can practice turning your gaze toward God’s character rather than toward what threatens you?