2. Introduction This morning, we will talk about one of God’s character that David experienced in his life journey, and that is God’s love. In our previous lessons, we learned different characteristics of God; that He is the God who satisfies, understands, helps, calms our fears, restores and strengthens, the God who listens and gives us refuge. And now we will learn one of the most important characteristics of God, and that is His loving- kindness.

4. * 1 Loving-kindness is used as an English translation for the Hebrew word HESED This term is used often in the book of Psalms, and refers to acts of kindness, motivated by love. It is used primarily in reference to God, rather than people.

5. Outline I.Man’s Wickedness v1-4 1.His Evil Character [Heart and Mind] v1-2 2.His Evil Conversation [Mouth] v3 3.His Evil Conduct [Works] v4

6. Outline II.God’s Love v5-9 1.His Unfailing Love v5a 2.His Faithful Love v5b 3.His Righteous Love v6a 4.His Blameless Love v6b 5.His Providential Love v6c, 8-9 6.His Protective Love v7b

7. Outline III.Our Prayer of Dependence v10-12 1.Adoration of God’s Character v10 2.Supplication of Man’s Needs v11-12 (Deliverance and Victory)

9. Psalm 36 “For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD”.

10. “ The term ‘servant’ carries an association with covenant relationship emphasizing submission to and service for God.” *John MacArthur Study Bible p741

11. The Four Loves 1.Storge/affection love (parent-child relationship) it is a dependency based love. 2.Phila/brotherly love (friendship relationship) like David and Jonathan. 3.Eros/romantic love (husband-wife relationship). 4.Agape/God’s love (God- Man Relationship).

12. “Love has two distinctions; first is what we called Gift-love, a love which moves a man to work and plan and save for the future well-being of his family. In other words, this love desires giving without expecting in return. God’s love is also a Gift-love, it gives and lacks nothing. *The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

13. But the other distinction in the contrary is what C.S. Lewis called Need-love. On the contrast, we humans are in this second distinction of love. We are badly in need of love. This is a hunger for love that needs to be filled, whether it is affection love, brotherly love, romantic love, or God’s love. This is a type of hunger that we are desperately needed to be filled. *The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

14. “When we acknowledge that we need love, it means that we are incomplete without it.”

15. “Our need for love means we need people—friends, spouses, family members. However, our need for love is such that even if all those people loved us perfectly, we still wouldn't have enough love to meet our need.” * http://www.ivpress.com/bible/study.php?study=186

16. I.Man’s Wickedness v1-4 Psalm 36:1-4 (NCV) 36 Sin speaks to the wicked in their hearts. They have no fear of God. 2 They think too much of themselves so they don’t see their sin and hate it. 3 Their words are wicked lies; they are no longer wise or good. 4 At night they make evil plans; what they do leads to nothing good. They don’t refuse things that are evil. *

17. Outline I.Man’s Wickedness v1-4 1.His Evil Character [Heart and Mind] v1-2 2.His Evil Conversation [Mouth] v3 3.His Evil Conduct [Works] v4

18. 1.His Evil Character [Heart and Mind] v1-2 Psalm 36:1-2 (NCV) 36 Sin speaks to the wicked in their hearts. They have no fear of God. 2 They think too much of themselves so they don’t see their sin and hate it. *

19. CHARACTER: 6 “Character is what we do when no one’s looking. It is not the same as reputation – what other people think of us. It is not the same as success or achievement. Character is not what we have done, but who we are.” * Character: Who We Are When No One’s Looking by Bill Hybels

20. “The assertion of original sin makes the point that we are not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we are sinners, born with a nature enslaved to sin.” * Original Sin by J.I. Parker

21. Biblestudytools.com defines ‘wickedness’ as “The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality… in the New Testament, wickedness is associated in the word poneria which means iniquity, malice, evil purposes and desires.” * Biblestudy.com/Wickedness

22. I.Man’s Wickedness v1-4 Romans 3:10-12 (NIV) 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” *

23. I.Man’s Wickedness v1-4 Psalm 14:1-3 (NIV) 1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The L ORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. *

24. 2.His Evil Conversation [Mouth] v3 Psalm 36:3 (NCV) 3 Their words are wicked lies; they are no longer wise or good. Romans 3:13-14 (NIV) 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” *

25. “Graves were sealed not only to show respect for the deceased, but to hide the sight and stench of the body’s decay. As an unsealed grave allows those who pass to see and smell what is inside, the unregenerate person’s open throat – that is, the foul words that came from it – reveal the decay of his heart…” * John MacArthur Study Bible

26. 3.His Evil Conduct [Works] v4 4 At night they make evil plans; what they do leads to nothing good. They don’t refuse things that are evil. Romans 3:15-18 (NIV) 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” *

27. II.God’s Loving-kindness v5-9 Psalm 36:5-9 (NASB) 5 Your lovingkindness, O L ORD, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; Your judgments are like a great deep. O L ORD, you preserve man and beast. *

28. II.God’s Loving-kindness v5-9 Psalm 36:5-9 (NASB) 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. 8 And drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. 9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. *

29. 1.His Unfailing Love v5a 5 Your lovingkindness, O L ORD, extends to the heavens, “The Hebrew word for loving-kindness in v5 is the word ‘hesed’. Other Bible translation translates it differently; NLT translates it as unfailing love; ESV translates it as steadfast love. KJV translates it as mercy; Holman’s Standard Bible translates it as faithful love, and ISV translates it as gracious love.”

30. 2.His Faithful Love v5b Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT) 13 If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

31. 3.His Righteous Love v6a 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; “Dictionaries define righteousness as “behavior that is morally justifiable or right.” Such behavior is characterized by accepted standards of morality, justice, virtue, or uprightness. The Bible’s standard of human righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior, and every word.” * http://www.gotquestions.org/righteousness.html

32. 3.His Righteous Love v6a “The righteousness of God is evident in the way He consistently acts in accord with His own character. God always acts righteously; His every action is consistent with His character... God is not defined by the term “righteous,” as much as the term “righteous” is defined by God. God is not measured by the standard of righteousness; God sets the standard of righteousness.” * https://bible.org/seriespage/6-righteousness-god

33. 4.His Blameless Love v6b “…Your judgments are like a great deep…

34. 5.His Providential Love v6c, 8-9 …O L ORD, you preserve man and beast. 8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. 9 For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. * God’s providential love demonstrates His character by providing us what we need despite our sin and inadequacy.

35. 5.His Providential Love v6c, 8-9 Psalm 36:8 (KJV) 8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house…

36. 6.His Protective Love v7b 7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 91:4 (NLT) 4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

37. III.Our Prayer of Dependence v10-12 Psalm 36:10-12 (NASB) 10 O continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, And Your righteousness to the upright in heart. 11 Let not the foot of pride come upon me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. 12 There the doers of iniquity have fallen; They have been thrust down and cannot rise. *