Psalms 36:10

“Christ’s Passion Never Dims”

Psalms 36:10 says, “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”

Psalms chapter 36 teaches us the difference between the sinfulness of man and the Holiness of God. Despite the wickedness of man God offers his mercy to all whom turn from their sins to Jesus. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

In the previous verses of Psalms 36 “lovingkindness” and “righteousness” were mentioned. Here in verse 10 both “lovingkindness” and “righteousness” are mentioned again. The word “lovingkindness” can be translated, ‘mercy’ or ‘mercy with zeal.’ And the word “righteousness” can also be translated, ‘justice.’

God keeps his promises. And God has great passion in his desire to give mercy unto sinful men. Once you turn from your sins to Jesus you have eternal life. Once saved always saved. The “righteousness” of Christ and the mercy of Christ will always be a part of your life. And it will continue beyond this life into eternity.

This is why Psalms 36:10 is such a great verse, “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”

Positional, a Christian always has the righteousness of Christ. But Christians are still sinners and sometimes we fail in our faith. It is good to know that Christ will continue his “lovingkindness” and his “righteousness” to his children. Understanding this truth will keep you serving Christ in this life no matter what challenges come your way. Another way of saying Psalms 36:10 is First John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Not only does a Christian always have the righteousness of Christ but a Christian always has the “lovingkindness” of God. Remember the word “lovingkindess” implies a mercy with zeal.

In Mark 12:29-30 Jesus said, “And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

There is something about young love and about new romance between a man and a woman that has such a passion to it. This kind of fervor is the kind of passion and love that men often have for Christ when they first find forgiveness of their sins in him. How hard it is for men to continue with this kind of love for Jesus and his Gospel. Such passion in spiritual romance is rare.

Revelation chapter 2:1-5says, “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are a postles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

The Christians in Ephesus were known for their love for Christ and therefore for their love for the brethren. They are the great example of a church with the right amount of zeal in their love for Christ. But even they fell away from their first love. How easy it is to fall away from your love for Christ. But even if you fall away from your love for Christ; Christ will never fall away from His love and his “lovingkindness” for you.

Psalms 51:12 says, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” If you do fall away from your love Christ; Christ who will never fall away from his love for you can restore to you the love that you once had for him.

Psalms 36:10 says, “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”

This is the reason it is so important to repent of your sins when you fail. This is also the reason it is so important to stay separated from the world. Failure to keep your sins confessed and failure to stay separated from the world will result in you quenching the Spirit within you. And thus you will lose your passion for Christ and you may even fall so far as to forget the righteous of Christ which is given unto you.

Thankfully God is a jealous God. God does not forget his promises. And God does not forget those whom have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. How wonderful it is to know that God love and God’s passion for me will never fail. His desire towards me will never dim. The zeal of Christ as prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, the zeal of Christ as he carried his cross to the hill of Calvary is the same zeal that Christ has for the lost souls of the world today. The zeal of Christ when He rose from the grave and ascended into heaven is the same “lovingkindness” He has for His children today as well.

Psalms 36:11-12 says, “Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me. There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.”

Once again pride is mentioned. One of the greatest failures of men is their pride. Pride keeps men from confessing their sins to Christ. And pride keeps men in opposition to God’s will for their lives.

He that “letteth will let”. God is control. Because His “lovingkindness” and “righteousness” is always therefore his children Christ will guide and protect those whom trust in him from the prideful people of this world.

Pride is a sin that is often called an internal sin as opposed to such sins as sexual immorality which is called an external sin. How great though is the pride of man. It is more rampant than the sexual immorality which plagues the world. Pride causes great destruction and suffering in men’s lives. And the pride of man can cause the Christian great suffering because of those whom oppose them and persecute them as they strive to pick up their cross daily and follow Christ.

The end result of those whom have pride is that they will be fallen, they will be cast down, and shall not be able to rise. Jesus said in Matthew 19:30, “But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” Jesus also said in Matthew 20:16, “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”

When you think of the word rise think of the word resurrection. Who is going to rise from the grave unto eternal life? The poor in spirit, the humble, who repent of their sins and humble themselves of their pride by surrendering their will over to God’s will when they accept Christ as their Savior.

Every man on this earth who has turned away from the gospel of Jesus Christ has done so because of pride. This is the reason Psalms 36 is such a great Psalm. It teaches both the sinfulness of man and the holiness of God. Man needs to see his own sinfulness. And man needs to see the holiness of God so that he will turn to Christ for the righteousness which is of faith.

Psalms 36:10 says, “O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”

In a way you could say that those who do not have Christ as their Savior do not have the “lovingkindness” of God. The lost of this world certainly do not have the “righteousness” of Christ. They are dead in sins. The “lovingkindness” and “righteousness” of Christ will continue for the child of God into all eternity but the opportunity for the “lovingkindness” and “righteousness” of Christ is an opportunity that will not continue for ever for the lost. Be sure to repent of your sins to Christ so that when you die you are not cast into hell. The rain falls on the just and the unjust but the “lovingkindness” of God and the “righteousness” of God which is only imputed by the grace of Christ through faith and not of works. Repent of your sins today and enter into the “lovingkindness” and “righteousness” of Christ.

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