PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Psalm 36
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.” (Psalm 36:1)
David isn’t referring to all humans as sinners, but to those who are terribly wicked.
Those who are blind to their badness, who are full of themselves and harsh towards others.
He contrasts their extreme wickedness with the extreme goodness of God (vv.5-9).
God does not want us to feel worthless, but does want us to be honest about our weakness.
Too often we are not honest, and we flatter ourselves as more good than others.
“Confident of their own righteousness and look(ing) down on everyone else…” (Luke 18:9)
This is the pharisee spirit, to see the world as us vs. the sinners.
I get that non-christians may do this, but I fear many christians do too.
David’s message is not to blind me to my own sin, but to warn me about deceptive flattery.
Only God is perfectly good, and we either trust in God’s goodness or our own.
Religious self-confidence blinds religious people from detecting and hating their own sin.
They have a message about “the sinfulness of the wicked” (36:1), but do not see their own.
Do we as christians flatter ourselves too much to detect or hate our sin?
May I guard against this pharisee spirit, and deal with the plank in my own eye!
PRAYER
Lord, you struggled most with the pharisee spirit in the church then… and I fear that you still do today. Help me to be honest, and not blind to the sin in my own heart and life.
Pride can get in the way – my pride that is! I’ve been humbled and reminded time and again. Thank you Lord for not giving up on me! “May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.” Proud arrogant people do turn me off as do those who have wicked intent. It is depressing to me – or at minimum discouraging. Lord help me to stay on track and not be derailed by pride, achievements, success, ego or otherwise! I am a sinner living because of God’s grace – not by my merit!
Jesus is the Light of the world. And I need to see all things in that Light. God is faithful and in Him I am able to serve Him. He is my Shelter, my Hope, my Source of Life. Even in times like these, He is in charge for this is God’s world. I need His presence daily to lead and guide me to keep my heart in serving Him for He will keep me on the right path if I but trust and obey Him in all my words and deeds. I need to see the world and myself through the eyes of Jesus.
1 Hark! the herald angels sing.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Glory to the newborn King,
Jesus, the light of the world.
Refrain:
We’ll walk in the light, beautiful light.
Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.
Oh, shine all around us by day and by night.
Jesus, the light of the world.
2 Joyful, all you nations, rise.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Join the triumph of the skies.
Jesus, the light of the world. [Refrain]
3 Christ, by highest heav’n adored.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Jesus, the light of the world. [Refrain]
4 Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace.
Jesus, the light of the world.
Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Jesus, the light of the world. [Refrain]