Life is filled with contrasts. Sweet and sour. Scratchy and soft. Cold and hot. Light and darkness. Such contrasts stand apart from each other like the poles of the earth.
The most stark contrast in the Bible is that of sinful humanity and the holiness of God.
In Psalm 36, David paints a picture of the sinner, of one who is far from God, juxtaposed against God and his steadfast love for his people.
The sinner is described as one who progressively steps into sin and finding no consequences, steps deeper still. He has no fear of God (v.1). He assumes that he’ll continue to get away with his iniquity (v.2), so he then devotes his life to sin (v.3). Before long, he lies on his bed in the dead of night, plotting and planning his evil deeds.
Like the flip of a switch, David then turns on the light and shows us God in all his glory. He describes his attributes:
steadfast love (v.5)
faithfulness (v.5)
righteousness (v.6)
perfect judgements (v.6)
saving (v.6)
a refuge (v.7)
generous (v.8)
life and light (v.9)
defender and deliverer (v.11)
What marvelous contrasts! And ones our hearts need to see. As God’s children living in a fallen world, it is hard not to despair when sin seems to reign. The psalmist wants us to remember that God is on the throne and that he rules in perfect righteousness. In fact, the world is full of God’s goodness, righteousness, and steadfast love. He is the light that cuts into the darkness of this fallen and broken world. John Calvin encourages us: “however great the depth of wickedness which there is among men, and though it seems like a flood which breaks forth and overflows the whole earth, yet still greater is the depth of God's providence… Whenever, therefore, our faith may be shaken by the confusion and disorder of human affairs… let us remember that the judgments of God in the government of the world are with the highest propriety compared to a great depth which fills heaven and earth, that the consideration of its infinite greatness may ravish our minds with admiration, swallow up all our cares, and dispel all our sorrows.”
On this side of redemption’s story, Jesus Christ is the character of God made flesh (Col. 1:15). In him, steadfast love and justice meet. He rescued and redeemed us from the greatest evil of all: sin and eternal death. He shelters us in the refuge of his righteousness. He showers upon us grace upon grace. He is the source and wellspring of all our spiritual blessings. He is the water of life, the light of the world.
It is Jesus who conquered evil at the cross. He reigns as King over all. He keeps and preserves us in his care.
Sometimes, when all seems dark, we need to be reminded of who God is. We need his light to cut into the darkness. We need that contrast to “swallow up all our cares, and dispel all our sorrows” as Calvin wrote. Dear friends, let us remember God’s steadfast love in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
