Basic Truths

We Are Bad

These first four verses are basically a description of total depravity. Total depravity is a phrase or name that is used to summarize what the Bible teaches about the spiritual condition of fallen man. While often misunderstood, the doctrine of total depravity is an acknowledgement that the Bible teaches that as a result of the fall of man (Genesis 3:6) every part of man—his mind, will, emotions and flesh—have been corrupted by sin. In other words, sin affects all areas of our being including who we are and what we do. It penetrates to the very core of our being so that everything is tainted by sin and “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). It acknowledges that the Bible teaches that we sin because we are sinners.

The total depravity of man is seen throughout the Bible.

Man’s heart is “deceitful and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Man is born dead in transgression and sin (Psalm 51:5, Psalm 58:3, Ephesians 2:1-5).

He is held captive by a love for sin (John 3:19; John 8:34)

He will not seek God (Romans 3:10-11)

He loves the darkness (John 3:19)

He does not understand the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:14).

He suppresses the truth of God in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18)

His sinful lifestyle seems right to him. (Proverbs 14:12)

He rejects the gospel of Christ as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18)

His mind is “hostile toward God (Romans 8:7).

Total depravity does not mean that man is as wicked or sinful as he could be, nor does it mean that man is without a conscience or any sense of right or wrong. The end point of total depravity is that we cannot save ourselves.

Self Deceived v. 1,2

Admittedly the first phrase of verse one has been a very difficult one to translate and understand. In my study my conclusion is that David is saying that he has recieved a word from the Lord regarding the sin of man. This can be seen in the way that CSB translates that first phrase: “An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked person...”

The first way that we deceive ourselves is by not fearing God (v. 1b) There is no logical reason to not fear God. Those outside of Christ should live in absolute terror of Him and those who know Christ worship Him in reverential awe. Unbelievers live everyday insulting the one who holds their life in His hand.

The second way that we are self deceived is in our view of self. We flatter ourselves telling ourselves that our sin isn’t that bad or that someone else’s is way worse (v. 2). “I may not be perfect but at least I am not like them.”

Sinfully Committed v. 3,4

This will be the end result of total depravity. We will become committed to our sinful lifestyles.

They plot trouble even as they lie down to sleep.

This truth is perhaps most easily seen in those that commit their lives to a sinful cause.

Abortion Industry

Pornography Distribution

Entertainment

God Is Good

Amazing Attributes v. 5, 6

Steadfast Love - serves as the foundational attribute in this list.

Hesed

Loyal, merciful lovingkindness

“When we deserve nothing He gives us everything.”

Perhaps the closest thing we can achieve to this steadfast love is the love of a parent for their child (at least as it should be). It is:

Fiercely loyal - illustration: momma bears

Merciful and gracious - children are selfish by nature, they destroy your stuff. Imagine if I came over to your house and did to yours what Coda does on a daily basis to mine. You would never invite me back.

Unconditional - when that child was born you never once asked if it was worthy of your love.

Tender and kind

Limitless - “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens.” (v. 5a)

This is a love that is beyond us in our sinful state, but we are capable of being on the receiving end.

You will never come to a point where you have drained the well of God’s love dry.

Precious - “How precious is your steadfast love, O God!” (v. 7a)

The love that God extends to us is priceless.

It is precious to us to the degree that it changes our thinking and behavior.

At least it should be. One cause of a backslidden state for a believer is losing sight of God’s love.

Faithfulness

Extends “to the clouds”

Poetic way of saying His faithfulness is limitless.

At no point has God ever said, “I am tried of being me.”

Righteousness

“Your righteousness is like the (highest, mighty) mountains of God.” (v. 6a)

Communicates thoughts of might, power and immensity.

The righteousness of God is immovable. He cannot be bribed.

Justice

“Your judgements (justice) are like the great deep.”

This is probably a reference to the ocean. The deepest part of the ocean that we know of is over 36,000 feet deep.

Obviously this too is a poetic reference to unlimited nature of God’s justice.

What God deems to be just will always be brought to fruition. God will one day make all things right. Although we do need to keep in might that it will be His definition of what is right, not ours.

Hospitality (v. 7b, 8)

Protection

“The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Those who are on the receiving end of God’s steadfast love take refuge under His wings.

Provision

Provision is an important part of protection.

He not only takes us into His house He feeds us from the abundance of His house. We drink from the rivers of His delights.

What does the river picture? Endlessness, unending resource

Life (v. 9)

Life is from God both physical and spiritual.

Again the fountain pictures an endless supply of life which is what we have in Christ.

Truth

“In Your light do we see light.”

What an interesting phrase. We can only understand truth from the perspective of a God who is truth.

We Need God

Steadfast Love and Righteousness. v. 10

He is exactly the God that we need.

He alone is offering exactly what we need.

Love

Righteousness

Divine Protection. v. 11, 12

From Ourselves

From Others