Every minute spent immersed in God’s Word is a profound blessing. Deciding what to write or preach about is not always easy. Some days, certain verses demand deeper exploration. At other times, however, I sense I might inject my agenda into what I am reading. Today, as I journeyed through Psalms 35-37, was one such day.
In Psalm 35, I saw many parallels in the current political sphere. It is an imprecatory Psalm, where David calls upon God to protect him from his enemies—enemies who sought his life. Assassination attempts against public figures like President Trump have been reported. The political activist within me urged a deeper dive into this topic, offering abundant material to work with. Yet, a quiet whisper in my heart told me this was not what God intended for me to share today.
The Resonance of Psalm 36
My focus then shifted to Psalm 36. As I read, the words rang in my ears as verses to the Third Day song, “Your Love Oh Lord (Psalm 36).” Third Day holds a special place in my heart; they were the very first Christian band I became a fan of.
After my conversion, the first church my wife and I joined was quite legalistic. The preaching carried a strong and impactful message. The praise team comprised a pianist and the choir. Some members even believed drums were demonic influences.
Before this, I had heard of some Christian artists, but none had captivated my interest. In the late 1980s, I had even recorded a demo album of original Country Rock music, reflecting my broad musical tastes, which spanned jazz, blues, country, folk, and rock. Christian music hadn’t resonated with me.
Then, one day, my wife and I took our son to a Gospel Supply store to purchase new Bibles. They had a music section that allowed customers to sample albums. I browsed a few compilations of “Gospel Hits,” which gave me a broad sampling.
Then, an intriguing cover for an album titled Time, by an unfamiliar band named Third Day, caught my eye. “Clever name for a Christian band,” I thought, and gave them a listen. Their artistry, lyrics, and vocals captivated me, and they gained a new lifelong fan.
I’ve even had the privilege of seeing them in concert twice. “Your Love Oh Lord (Psalm 36)” was on that album, and it has not only remained one of my favorite songs, but has also made Psalm 36 one of my favorite Psalms for over a quarter of a century.
Understanding God’s Love and Justice
So, what was David talking about in this Psalm, and why would God want me to write about it today?
Psalm 36 explores the profound contrast between human depravity and God’s boundless love and justice.
David expresses his deep sorrow as he observes the sinfulness of those around him (v. 1). Like many today, they live with no fear of God. They boast, attributing their successes to themselves, even though God, in His grace, provided them (v.2).
This mirrors the description Paul gave in 2 Timothy 3:2–4: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (NIV). Because of this profound depravity, David states they will speak lies and act unwisely (v. 3).
A year or two before I discovered Third Day’s album, I would have taken pride in these very traits within myself. Making money, self-pride, and a lack of self-control were once markers of success for me. What amazes me about Jesus is that He knew all this and still chose to die for me. He gave His life so that I could live. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13 NIV).
Therefore, the opening verse of the Third Day song, drawn directly from this Psalm, struck me with immense force: “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens.” God loved me so deeply that He Himself came down to intercede for me (Rom 8:34).
Thus, I will follow the example of Mac Powell, the lead singer of Third Day, and lift my voice to worship Him. Putting aside my impulses to write about politics or church history, I choose to share the wonder that is Jesus. He is not just enough; He is everything. Today, let’s praise His glorious name.
Tomorrow, we will read Psalms 38-43.
Notes
Joseph Benson, Benson Commentary of the Old and New Testaments, accessed June 5, 2025, https://www.bensoncommentary.com/.
Third Day, “Your Love Oh Lord (Psalm 36),” on Time, Essential Records, 1999, compact disc.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. 2011. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. All biblical citations refer to this version unless otherwise noted