Psalm 36:7
How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
How precious
The Hebrew word for "precious" is "yāqār," which conveys the idea of something being rare, valuable, and highly esteemed. In the context of Psalm 36:7, this word emphasizes the immense worth and beauty of God's love. It is not something to be taken for granted but cherished and revered. Historically, precious items were often associated with wealth and status, yet here, the psalmist elevates God's love above all earthly treasures, inviting believers to recognize its supreme value in their lives.

is Your loving devotion
The phrase "loving devotion" is translated from the Hebrew word "ḥeseḏ," which is rich in meaning, encompassing love, kindness, mercy, and faithfulness. This covenantal term is central to understanding God's relationship with His people. It signifies a steadfast, loyal love that is unwavering and enduring. In the scriptural context, "ḥeseḏ" is often associated with God's promises and His unchanging nature, providing believers with assurance and comfort in His eternal commitment to them.

O God!
The use of "O God" here is a direct address to the Almighty, emphasizing a personal and intimate relationship between the psalmist and the Creator. The Hebrew word for God is "Elohim," a plural form that denotes majesty and power. This title reflects God's sovereignty and His role as the supreme ruler of the universe. In the historical context of Israel, calling upon God in this manner was an acknowledgment of His authority and a declaration of trust in His divine intervention and care.

The children of men
This phrase refers to humanity at large, highlighting the universal scope of God's love and protection. The Hebrew term "benê ʾādām" literally means "sons of Adam," linking all people back to the creation narrative and the shared human experience. It underscores the idea that God's loving devotion is not limited to a select group but is available to all who seek refuge in Him. This inclusivity is a testament to God's grace and the overarching narrative of redemption found throughout Scripture.

take refuge
The concept of taking refuge is deeply rooted in the Hebrew word "ḥāsāh," which means to seek shelter or protection. In ancient times, cities of refuge provided safety for those in danger, and this imagery is used to convey the security found in God's presence. Spiritually, taking refuge in God implies trust and reliance on His strength and provision. It is an act of faith, acknowledging that true safety and peace are found not in worldly structures but in the divine embrace of the Almighty.

in the shadow of Your wings
This metaphor draws from the imagery of a bird protecting its young under its wings, symbolizing care, protection, and intimacy. The Hebrew word "kanap" refers to the wing or extremity, often used in Scripture to depict God's protective nature. Historically, this imagery would resonate with an agrarian society familiar with the protective instincts of birds. In a broader biblical context, it evokes the idea of God's presence as a sanctuary, offering comfort and security to those who trust in Him. This phrase invites believers to rest in the assurance of God's unfailing love and protection, much like a chick finds safety under the wings of its mother.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The central figure in this verse, representing divine love and protection.

2. Children of Men
Refers to humanity, emphasizing the universal need for God's protection and love.

3. Shadow of Your Wings
A metaphorical place of safety and refuge, symbolizing God's protective care.
Teaching Points
The Preciousness of God's Love
God's loving devotion is described as "precious," indicating its immense value and worth. Reflect on how you can cherish and prioritize God's love in your daily life.

Seeking Refuge in God
Just as the children of men take refuge in God's wings, we are called to seek His protection and guidance in times of trouble. Consider how you can actively seek God's refuge through prayer and trust.

Metaphor of Wings
The imagery of wings suggests warmth, safety, and care. Think about how you can experience and share God's protective love with others in your community.

Universal Need for God
The phrase "children of men" highlights that all humanity needs God's love and protection. Reflect on how you can share the message of God's love with those around you.

Trust in Divine Protection
Trusting in God's protection requires faith. Evaluate areas in your life where you need to deepen your trust in God's provision and care.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of "the shadow of Your wings" enhance your understanding of God's protection?

2. In what ways can you make God's loving devotion more "precious" in your daily life?

3. How can you actively seek refuge in God during challenging times?

4. What are some practical ways you can share the message of God's love and protection with others?

5. How do the additional scriptures (Psalm 91:4, Ruth 2:12, Matthew 23:37) deepen your understanding of God's protective nature?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 91:4
This verse also uses the imagery of God's wings to describe His protection, reinforcing the theme of divine refuge.

Ruth 2:12
Boaz speaks of Ruth taking refuge under God's wings, illustrating faith and trust in God's protection.

Matthew 23:37
Jesus laments over Jerusalem, expressing a desire to gather its people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, showing God's longing to protect His people.
The Divine Hunger and ThirstCharles KingsleyPsalm 36:7
A Diagnosis of SinJ. H. Jowett, M.A.Psalm 36:1-12
A Sharp Contrast of Sin and HolinessT. W. Chambers, D. D.Psalm 36:1-12
AspiceW. Forsyth Psalm 36:1-12
On the Deceitfulness of the HeartJohn Jamieson, D. D.Psalm 36:1-12
The Character of the Wicked and the Prayer of the GoodHomilistPsalm 36:1-12
The Curse of Wickedness and the Blessedness of Fellowship with GodC. Short Psalm 36:1-12
The Deceitfulness of SinW. Craig, D.D.Psalm 36:1-12
The Remedy for the World's WickednessHugh M'Neils, M. A.Psalm 36:1-12
We have Here a Terrible Picture Of, the Wicked ManW. Forsyth Psalm 36:1-12
A Great DeepJ. Jackson Wray.Psalm 36:5-7
Earthly Emblems of Heavenly ThingsT. Whitelaw, D. D.Psalm 36:5-7
FathomlessPsalm 36:5-7
God's Righteousness Like the Great MountainsChristian WeeklyPsalm 36:5-7
God's Righteousness Like the MountainsJ. Silvester, M. A.Psalm 36:5-7
God's Righteousness Like the MountainsT. J. Guest.Psalm 36:5-7
Mountain MeditationsW. O. Horder.Psalm 36:5-7
Preparation for Dark ProvidencesH. Melvill, B. D.Psalm 36:5-7
Righteousness and Great MountainsEnoch Mellor, D. D.Psalm 36:5-7
Sky, Earth and Sea; a Parable of GodA. Maclaren, D. D.Psalm 36:5-7
The Mountains of GodT. Spurgeon.Psalm 36:5-7
Two ComparisonsA. McAuslane, D. D.Psalm 36:5-7
Voices of a Summer LandscapeW. A. Gray.Psalm 36:5-7
God's Revelation of Himself to ManC. Clemance Psalm 36:5-12
Righteousness; Judgment; Loving-KindnessW. Forsyth Psalm 36:6, 7
The Character and Privileges of God's PeopleD. Rees.Psalm 36:7-8
The Excellence of God's Loving-KindnessHelps for the PulpitPsalm 36:7-8
The Excellence of God's Loving-KindnessT. Herren, D. D.Psalm 36:7-8
The Guests of the LordJ. H. Jowett, M.A.Psalm 36:7-8
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Cover, Excellent, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Low, Mercy, O, Precious, Refuge, Shade, Shadow, Sons, Steadfast, Trust, Unfailing, Wings
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 36:7

     2233   Son of Man
     4690   wings
     4846   shadow
     5490   refuge
     5888   inferiority
     6650   finding

Psalm 36:5-7

     5762   attitudes, God to people

Psalm 36:7-8

     8261   generosity, God's

Psalm 36:7-9

     8701   affluence

Library
Sky, Earth, and Sea: a Parable of God
'Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. 6. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. 7. How excellent is Thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.' --PSALM xxxvi. 5-7. This wonderful description of the manifold brightness of the divine nature is introduced in this psalm with singular abruptness. It is set side by side
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

What Men Find Beneath the Wings of God
'They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. 9. For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.' --PSALM xxxvi. 8, 9. In the preceding verses we saw a wonderful picture of the boundless perfections of God; His lovingkindness, faithfulness, righteousness, and of His twofold act, the depths of His judgments and the plainness of His merciful preservation of man and beast. In these verses we have
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Divine Hunger and Thirst
(Preached before the Queen.) Psalm xxxvi. 7, 8, 9. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. This is a great saying. So great that we shall never know, certainly never in this life, how much it means. It speaks of being
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Wherefore this do Ye, virgins of God, this do Ye...
53. Wherefore this do ye, virgins of God, this do ye: follow ye the Lamb, whithersoever He shall have gone. But first come unto Him, Whom ye are to follow, and learn, in that He is meek and lowly of heart. Come ye in lowly wise unto the Lowly, if ye love: and depart not from Him, lest ye fall. For whoso fears to depart from Him asks and says, "Let there not come to me foot of pride." [2214] Go on in the way of loftiness with the foot of lowliness; Himself lifteth up such as follow in lowly wise,
St. Augustine—Of Holy Virginity.

Let Thus Much have Been Said with Regard to Charity...
20. Let thus much have been said with regard to charity, without which in us there cannot be true patience, because in good men it is the love of God which endureth all things, as in bad men the lust of the world. But this love is in us by the Holy Spirit which was given us. Whence, of Whom cometh in us love, of Him cometh patience. But the lust of the world, when it patiently bears the burdens of any manner of calamity, boasts of the strength of its own will, like as of the stupor of disease, not
St. Augustine—On Patience

Nor do they Attend to This, that if Another Should Say...
3. Nor do they attend to this, that if another should say, that the Lord indeed, speaking in parables and in similitudes concerning spiritual food and clothing, did warn that not on these accounts should His servants be solicitous; (as He saith, "When they shall drag you to judgment-seats, take no thought what ye shall speak. For it will be given you in that hour what ye shall speak: but it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you." [2479] For the discourse of spiritual
St. Augustine—Of the Work of Monks.

The Knowledge of God Stifled or Corrupted, Ignorantly or Maliciously.
1. The knowledge of God suppressed by ignorance, many falling away into superstition. Such persons, however, inexcusable, because their error is accompanied with pride and stubbornness. 2. Stubbornness the companion of impiety. 3. No pretext can justify superstition. This proved, first, from reason; and, secondly, from Scripture. 4. The wicked never willingly come into the presence of God. Hence their hypocrisy. Hence, too, their sense of Deity leads to no good result. 1. But though experience testifies
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Fourth Continental Journey.
1842-3. In the journey which now lay before them, John and Martha Yeardley were about to explore a part of Europe hitherto untried,--the province of Languedoc, conspicuous in past ages for its superior enlightenment, but now, owing to the temporary mastery of error, wrapt in ignorance and gloom. In this mission, the opportunities which they found for reviving and gathering together the scattered embers of truth, were nearly confined to social intercourse; in seeking occasions for which, they availed
John Yeardley—Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel

Epistle xvi. From Felix Bishop of Messana to St. Gregory.
From Felix Bishop of Messana [243] to St. Gregory. To the most blessed and honourable lord, the holy father Pope Gregory, Felix lover of your Weal and Holiness. The claims under God of your most blessed Weal and Holiness are manifest. For, though the whole earth was filled with observance of the true faith by the preaching and doctrine of the apostles, yet the orthodox Church of Christ, having been founded by apostolical institution and most firmly established by the faithful fathers, is further
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Instruction for the Ignorant:
BEING A SALVE TO CURE THAT GREAT WANT OF KNOWLEDGE, WHICH SO MUCH REIGNS BOTH IN YOUNG AND OLD. PREPARED AND PRESENTED TO THEM IN A PLAIN AND EASY DIALOGUE, FITTED TO THE CAPACITY OF THE WEAKEST. 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.'--Hosea 4:6 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This little catechism is upon a plan perfectly new and unique. It was first published as a pocket volume in 1675, and has been republished in every collection of the author's works; and recently in a separate tract.
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Of Self-Surrender
Of Self-Surrender We should now begin to abandon and give up our whole existence unto God, from the strong and positive conviction, that the occurrence of every moment is agreeable to His immediate will and permission, and just such as our state requires. This conviction will make us resigned in all things; and accept of all that happens, not as from the creature, but as from God Himself. But I conjure you, my dearly beloved, who sincerely wish to give up yourselves to God, that after you have made
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

The Eternity of Heaven's Happiness.
Having endeavored, in the foregoing pages, to form to ourselves some idea of the glorious happiness reserved for us in heaven, there still remains to say something of its crowning glory--the eternity of its duration. This is not only its crowning glory, but it is, moreover, an essential constituent of that unspeakable joy which now inebriates the souls of the blessed. A moment's reflection will make this evident. Let us suppose, for the sake of illustration, that on the last day, God should thus
F. J. Boudreaux—The Happiness of Heaven

"Thou Shall Keep Him in Perfect Peace, Whose Mind is Stayed on Thee, Because He Trusteth in Thee. "
Isaiah xxvi. 3.--"Thou shall keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." Christ hath left us his peace, as the great and comprehensive legacy, "My peace I leave you," John xiv. 27. And this was not peace in the world that he enjoyed; you know what his life was, a continual warfare; but a peace above the world, that passeth understanding. "In the world you shall have trouble, but in me you shall have peace," saith Christ,--a peace that shall make trouble
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor. Gregory to Theoctista, &c. With how great devotion my mind prostrates itself before your Venerableness I cannot fully express in words; nor yet do I labour to give utterance to it, since, even though I were silent, you read in your heart your own sense of my devotion. I wonder, however, that you withdrew your countenance, till of late bestowed on me, from this my recent engagement in the pastoral office; wherein, under colour of episcopacy, I have been brought
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Division of Actual Grace
Actual grace may be divided according to: (1) the difference existing between the faculties of the human soul, and (2) in reference to the freedom of the will. Considered in its relation to the different faculties of the soul, actual grace is either of the intellect, or of the will, or of the sensitive faculties. With regard to the free consent of the will, it is either (1) prevenient, also called cooeperating, or (2) efficacious or merely sufficient. 1. THE ILLUMINATING GRACE OF THE INTELLECT.--Actual
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Spiritual Hunger Shall be Satisfied
They shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 I proceed now to the second part of the text. A promise annexed. They shall be filled'. A Christian fighting with sin is not like one that beats the air' (1 Corinthians 9:26), and his hungering after righteousness is not like one that sucks in only air, Blessed are they that hunger, for they shall be filled.' Those that hunger after righteousness shall be filled. God never bids us seek him in vain' (Isaiah 45:19). Here is an honeycomb dropping into the mouths of
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

What Messiah did the Jews Expect?
1. The most important point here is to keep in mind the organic unity of the Old Testament. Its predictions are not isolated, but features of one grand prophetic picture; its ritual and institutions parts of one great system; its history, not loosely connected events, but an organic development tending towards a definite end. Viewed in its innermost substance, the history of the Old Testament is not different from its typical institutions, nor yet these two from its predictions. The idea, underlying
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1120) to a Youth Named Fulk, who Afterwards was Archdeacon of Langres
To a Youth Named Fulk, Who Afterwards Was Archdeacon of Langres He gravely warns Fulk, a Canon Regular, whom an uncle had by persuasions and promises drawn back to the world, to obey God and be faithful to Him rather than to his uncle. To the honourable young man Fulk, Brother Bernard, a sinner, wishes such joy in youth as in old age he will not regret. 1. I do not wonder at your surprise; I should wonder if you were not suprised [sic] that I should write to you, a countryman to a citizen, a monk
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Notes on the Third Century
Page 161. Line 1. He must be born again, &c. This is a compound citation from John iii. 3, and Mark x. 15, in the order named. Page 182. Line 17. For all things should work together, &c. See Romans viii. 28. Page 184. Lines 10-11. Being Satan is able, &c. 2 Corinthians xi. 14. Page 184. Last line. Like a sparrow, &c. Psalm cii. Page 187. Line 1. Mechanisms. This word is, in the original MS., mechanicismes.' Page 187. Line 7. Like the King's daughter, &c. Psalm xlv. 14. Page 188. Med. 39. The best
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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