David begins this psalm by observing the brokenness around him. He sees a world where people live without the fear of God. They are consumed with self-importance, blind to correction, and indifferent to their own wrongdoing. Even in their quiet moments, they devise ways to do harm. Their hearts have become numb to truth because they no longer revere God.

Yet, David does not end with despair. He lifts our eyes away from the darkness of sin and turns our gaze toward the unwavering character of God.

Instead of being overwhelmed by the evil he sees, David invites us to behold the breathtaking beauty of God’s steadfast love—a love that stretches beyond the heavens. He reminds us of God’s faithfulness that never fails, His righteousness that is like the highest mountains, and His justice that runs deeper than the oceans. In a world where deceit and destruction are rampant, God is our refuge, our fountain of life, and our source of light.

David does not minimise the presence of evil—but he urges us to dwell not in fear or bitterness, but in the shelter of God’s mercy. His words are an invitation: to take refuge under the shadow of God’s wings, to feast on the abundance of His house, and to drink deeply from the river of His delights.

What do you fix your eyes on—the brokenness around you, or the beauty of God’s character? When fear, disappointment, or cynicism creeps in, where do you run? Psalm 36 calls us not just to acknowledge God’s love as an idea, but to rest in it as a reality. The evil of the world is real, but so is the love and mercy of God—and it is greater still. Today, would you choose to anchor your heart in His steadfast love.

Prayer:

Dear God, when I see the brokenness of the world, help me not to despair or grow bitter. Instead, lift my eyes to Your steadfast love that reaches to the heavens and Your faithfulness that never ends. Teach me to take refuge in You, to find life in You, and to rest in Your goodness. Help me to live each day not in fear, but in the confidence of Your steadfast love.