Psalm Devotional
Far as the Curse is Found
One of the distinctives of Reformed theology is its emphasis on the impact of the Fall. In Psalm 36, David explores this topic, focusing on the impact of the Fall on human nature.
In this psalm, David engages in deep theological reflection regarding the nature of sin. He begins by declaring that it is an “oracle” on this topic. Like a diligent scientist, David examines wickedness and then reports his findings. In verses 1-4, David articulates the life cycle of human sinfulness.
First, he tells us that wickedness takes root when men disregard the divine. In verse 1, he states that the wicked man has “no fear of God before his eyes.” David observes that wickedness is spawned when man rejects God’s authority.
Next, David notes that wickedness sprouts as man’s moral diagnostics become disabled. In verse 2, we learn that the wicked man is misled by his own self-flattery: “For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.” Without the light of God’s presence, man becomes so deceived that he is no longer able to even detect his sin, let alone hate it.
