The Transgression of The Wicked Speaks To The Psalmist's Heart Alerting Him To The Sinfulness Of Man (Psalms 36:1-4).
‘The oracle of the transgression of the wicked within my heart,
There is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes,
That his iniquity will not be found out and be hated.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit,
He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
He devises iniquity upon his bed,
He sets himself in a way that is not good,
He abhors not evil.'
In these first four verses ‘the Transgression (rebellion) of the wicked' speaks like a prophet to the Psalmist's heart concerning the wicked. It declares that there is no ‘dread fear' of God before the eyes of the wicked (compare the citation of these words in Romans 3:18 where it sums up man's sinfulness). In other words the wicked are not moved by YHWH's covenant requirements, or the need to obey Him, or the fear of judgment, because they dismiss Him from their thoughts. They treat His desires lightly. Indeed the wicked man convinces himself that his iniquity will not be found out. He convinces himself that, even though God hates his iniquity, it will not receive its deserts, for he has no recognition of a living God who sees and knows all things.
The behaviour of the wicked is then spelled out in detail;
· The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit. They speak guile. And by his words he will be condemned (Matthew 12:37). Compare Psalms 5:5-6; Psalms 10:7.
· He has ceased to be wise and to do good. He has deliberately turned from goodness. Compare Jeremiah 4:22, and contrast Isaiah 1:16-17.
· He devises iniquity on his bed. Even when resting he still plans further sinfulness. While the righteous meditate on their beds, and repent (Psalms 4:4) and bring God to their minds (Psalms 63:6), the wicked simply plot sin and thus come under God's Woe (Micah 2:1).
· He sets himself in a way that is not good. He positively chooses the path that leads away from goodness (Isaiah 65:2). Not for him the Holy Way (Isaiah 35:8). He wants the way of self choosing and pleasure.
· He does not abhor evil. This marks him off from all others. He has no hatred of what is evil.
It is clear from this that he loves the evil and hates the good. He does not necessarily declare this openly, but it is what lies within his heart. He lives his life without God, and chases after sin.