Psalms 36:6

Psalms 36:6 says, “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”

In Psalms chapter 36 the first 4 verses described for us the depravity of man. Man is prideful and self righteous. Man praises himself when he should praise Jesus. Man premeditates his sins. Man turns away from truth. Despite the depravity of man there is mercy for those whom pray to Christ for mercy because Christ died for the sins of the world.

Now in the next several verses of Psalms we are going to be given details about God and what God is like in His character. What a contrast there is between the depravity of man and the holiness of God. God is: merciful, faithful, righteous and full of “lovingkindness”. God gives life, pleasure and light.

In verse 6 the first thing spoken of is the righteousness of God. The word that is used here for righteousness is a word that can also be translated, ‘justice.’ Genesis 15:6 says of Abraham, “And Abraham believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Titus 3:5-7 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

What a wonderful word is the word righteousness. When you think of God perhaps one of the first truths that should come to mind is that God is righteous. Yet who can understand what righteousness is? Without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness. How can man understand righteousness any more than man can behold the brightness of the glory of God who is a consuming fire? Yet by faith in the promises of God we can understand righteousness.

In Psalms 36:6 the righteousness of Jehovah is said to be, ‘like the great mountains.’ When looking at the earth and the characteristics of the geography of the earth the most notable feature is the great mountains which rise up from the sea and reach unto the clouds. They are immovable. They are exalted above the rest of the earth. The great mountains of this world mark the boundaries’ of nations, provide defense from invading armies. And their presence greatly affects the weather patterns of the world. It is no wonder the righteousness of God is compared to, ‘the great mountains.’

In Psalms 36:6 righteousness and judgment are mentioned together. The word righteousness used here in verse 6 can be translated, ‘justice.’ There is no justice in sin. There is no justice in doing wrong. But the judgments of God are always just. Perhaps this is why the word preservation is mentioned next. Preservation can mean to endure forever. In seeking a definition for the word righteousness so that we might understand the righteousness of God perhaps the best definition are these verse in the New Testament.

Titus 3:5-7 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” And 1 Timothy 3:16 says, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Righteousness, judgment, and preservation: these three truths are met together at the cross of Calvary where Christ who is righteous died for the sins of the world. This is the justice of God for all those whom repent of their sins and turn to the only begotten son of God because God is righteous and therefore He is merciful he preservest both man and beast. There is no greater preservation than the preservation of eternal life found through the justice done in God’s judgment for my sins when Christ was judged for my sins.

How marvelous indeed is the justice of God. It is no surprise that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD because Jesus is righteous. There is much to learn about the righteousness of God. For those whom turn from their sins to Jesus there will be the opportunity of all eternity to be satisfied in their thirst for righteousness. To have all eternity to learn about the righteousness of God is indeed all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. This is why the Bible is such a wonderful book of truth because it teaches man of the righteousness of God. “According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.”

Psalms 36:7 says, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.” The word loving kindness is a word that is elsewhere in the Bible translated, ‘goodness’ and, ‘mercy. The word “lovingkindness” means a merciful zeal. It is a kindness born of passion and desire. Not surprisingly the word excellent is a word that means, ‘a precious stone.’ Psalms 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Righteousness, judgment, and preservation are words which describe the gospel of Jesus Christ. How great is the depravity of man. He is prideful. Man praises himself instead of God. Man premeditates his own sins. Man turns away from the truth and does evil. Yet God is righteous in his judgments. How excellent is the “lovingkindness” of God. The passionate mercy of God is the most precious stone that any man can find.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:44-46, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”

Jesus said blessed are those who do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Jesus is the pearl of great price. Jesus is the precious stone. Jesus is the rock. Jesus is the rock of salvation. Psalms 36:7 says, “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.”

The righteousness of God is like the great mountains. How excellent is the “lovingkindess” of God whose name is Jealous. How excellent is the loving kindness of God who is a consuming fire. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Jeremiah 23:29 says, “Is not my word like as fire? Saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces.” Without controversy great is the mystery of Godliness. Faith hearing and hearing by the words of God. The righteousness of God is imputed unto all those whom put their faith in the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for your sins, and rose again the 3^rd day. It is Jesus who is the “Alpha and Omega”, “the beginning and the end”, the “I AM THAT I AM”, the “LORD JEHOVAH”, the eternally existent one. It is Jesus who is righteous. There is such justice to be found in the mercy of God through Christ. How precious is the stone of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Righteousness, judgment, preservation and “lovingkindness” for all eternity: these things describe the character of God and the spiritual blessings of heavenly places which any man who turns from their sins to Jesus can receive.

Psalms 36 is a Psalms which begins by describing the depravity of man. And of the great characteristics of men is the depravity of man’s mind and the thoughts and imaginations of his mind. How wonderful is the righteousness of God. The mind of man was meant to think about, thirst after, learn of, and meditate upon the righteousness of God.

If you have never turned from your sins to Jesus then do so now and receive the righteous of Christ which is of faith.

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