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Day 285

Psalm 36:2a "He flatters himself in his own eyes..."

Day 285 – Psalm 35

“He flatters himself in his own eyes…” Psalm 36:2a

A GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURE OF EVIL

David did not always have a fully mature understanding of evil. In Psalm 35, he struggled with the thought of how “friends” could betray him and take sides with his enemies. It took a direct word from God, an oracle, to help him understand the nature of evil and how wicked people think and behave!

A SOLEMN DESCRIPTION OF WICKED PEOPLE

The following text was part of the oracle God gave to David to help him comprehend the nature of evil and wicked men.

“There is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes,
When he finds out his iniquity and when he hates.
The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
He devices wickedness on his bed;
He sets himself in a way that is not good;
He does not abhor evil.”
Psalm 36:1b-4

1. The eyes of the wicked

a) He has no fear of God.
b) He flatters himself.
c) He has no regard for iniquity.
d) He continues to hate… by choice.

2. The words of the wicked

a) Wickedness
b) Deceit

3. The way of the wicked

a) Unwisely he has chosen to cease to do good.
b) He spends the night devising wicked deeds.
c) He chooses to walk in ways that are not good and does not hate evil.