Living with God on the Mind
How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 36:7 (CSB)
We experience the influence of various dynamics throughout life. We are influenced by parents, friends, worldviews, celebrities, and the list could go on. In Psalm 36, the Psalmist recognizes that the influence of the people of the world does not align with the ways of the Lord. To live in genuine wisdom throughout life, we must seek to live under the influence, care, and leadership of the Lord. The Psalmist speaks to this truth in Psalm 36.
The Wrong Influence (1-4). The Psalmist opens the Psalm by describing the influences of this world that are under the control of sin. The Psalmist declares that the wrong influences operate without a proper fear of the Lord. They often behave as if God does not exist or as if He does not care. They are more concerned about their own viewpoints and building themselves up rather than living for the Lord. The words of their lips are driven by deceit; they prioritize the self and live outside of the true wisdom found only in the Lord. The wrong influences plot to carry out selfish activities and refuse to reject evil. When we consider these traits, we must recognize how the influence of this negative kind leads us away from the Lord. We must understand the genuine condition of their hearts and see their intent.
The Proper Influence (5-9). The Psalmist contrasts negative influences with the Lord and reveals the goodness of God. This contrast serves as a foundation to show that the Lord must be the primary influence in our lives. The Lord is faithful, and this faithfulness extends from the heavens, highlighting the immeasurable depth of God’s faithfulness. At the same time, the Lord provides protection for His own by placing them under the shadow of His wings. This imagery shows that God protects us from the armies of the world. In a sense, when we live under the shadow of God’s wings, we are shielded from the influences of this world because we experience God’s faithfulness and truth. As God’s children through Christ, we gain the ability to illuminate our path, allowing the light to shine and reveal the deceptiveness of wrong influences.
Living Under The Proper Influence (10-12). The Psalmist concludes this Psalm by asking the Lord to protect him from the influences of this world and to allow him to experience the fullness of God’s presence and love. This request exemplifies what the heart of a believer should seek. We must pursue the Lord and ask Him to shield us from the worldly influences that can lead us astray. We need the Lord’s assistance because these influences can subtly divert our attention away from Him. At the same time, we must trust in the Lord’s eternal victory, knowing that He will defeat His enemies. When we maintain a proper understanding of God’s victory and His ability to protect us from the enemy’s influence, we establish the posture to live rightly under the influence and guidance of the Lord.
QUESTIONS
What is influencing your life that is part of the world? How can you identify the influences that impact your life that are of this world?
What key steps can you take to live under the proper influence of the Lord and not the wrong influence of this world?
