Psalms 14 and 53 — The Fool Says God Is Not
Introduction: Psalms 14 and Psalms 53 are very similar in text. These parallel passages appear in two of the five books of the Psalms, with Psalms 14 in the first scroll and Psalms 53 in the second. After reading several Bible translations of both Psalms, I selected the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) version for the text of this study. The verses are listed below in sets from both Psalms, with other scripture and commentary. In the English text of the JPS, Psalm 14 has 155 words and Psalm 53 has 158 words. The major difference in phrases is in verse 6 for Psalm 14, which is the last half of verse 6 for Psalm 53. A psalm might be defined as a pleasing arrangement or succession in a poem, which is suitable to be set to a melody.
NOTE: The JPS text was obtained from the Online Bible, and is from the 1917 Jewish Publication Society’s English translation. All New Testament verses are from the 1769 KJV.
A — Psalms 14 and 53:1–2 — The Fool and Corruption
Psalm 14 “1 For the Leader. [A Psalm] of David. The fool hath said in his heart: ‘There is no God’; they have dealt corruptly, they have done abominably; there is none that doeth good.”
Psalm 53 “2 The fool hath said in his heart: ‘There is no God’; they have dealt corruptly, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none that doeth good.”
Comments: The “leader” mentioned in verse one would be the director of music for temple worship. The word Maschil appears in the title of 13 Psalms and indicates that the content is intended to be instructive. I made a personal paraphrase of only the first two verses: “The fool, one senseless and without judgment, says in his heart ‘there is no God.’ But these fools are corrupt, decaying, proceeding to ruin and destruction; their unjust and unrighteous actions are unequivocally detestable and abhorrent; there is not one of them that does good. The Lord of glory is, and shall forever be; and only the foolish know this not.” Job 34 “21 For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings. 22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” Psalm 92 “6 How great are Thy works, O LORD! Thy thoughts are very deep. 7 A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this. 8 When the wicked spring up as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they may be destroyed for ever.” 1 Corinthians 1 “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
Those who trust solely in the Lord for righteousness seem foolish to those of the world; but that trust makes them in truth the wise ones, and they have the sure blessing of the Lord. It is far better to receive the embodied instruction of a Maschil than to remain in sin, and truly be a fool. Psalm 32 “1 Happy is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is pardoned. 2 Happy is the man unto whom the LORD counteth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”
B — God Looks from Heaven and Sees None That Doeth Good
Psalm 14 “2 The LORD looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God. 3 They are all corrupt, they are together become impure; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Psalm 53 “3 God looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after God. 4 Every one of them is unclean, they are together become impure; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Comments: If the Godless seek for support of their denial of God, from men all around the world, they will readily find it in abundance. But this is not because the proof of creation itself does not shout the truth to them. It is rather because they all have become dull of hearing and blind to see, through rejection of the Creator, who would otherwise become their redeemer. And that is the natural state of every man through Adam. So, as God looks from heaven, he sees the true condition of man: that all need a Savior. Romans 3 “9 We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” Galatians 3 “22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”
C — The Workers of Iniquity Will Know God
Psalms 14 “4 Shall not all the workers of iniquity know it, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD?”
Psalm 53 “5 Shall not the workers of iniquity know it, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and call not upon God?”
Comments: The JPS uses “shall,” emphasizing the certainty that awaits the scoffer of God. For any who will accept the truth, other scripture leaves no doubt that God exists and he will act. Deuteronomy 32 “39 See now that I, even I, am He, and there is no god with Me; I kill, and I make alive; I have wounded, and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand.” Isaiah 45 “21 Have not I the LORD? And there is no God else beside Me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me.”
D — Those Who Reject God Will Face Terror; God Is the Refuge of the Poor
Psalm 14 “5 There are they in great fear; for God is with the righteous generation. 6 Ye would put to shame the counsel of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.”
Psalm 53 “6 There are they in great fear, where no fear was; for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee; Thou hast put them to shame, because God hath rejected them.”
Comments: Those who show no fear as they reject an omnipotent and awesome God now will see terror in the end, with no refuge. They mocked the counsel of the Lord that comforts the poor and the weak; but God will reject them utterly and display the folly of their own counsel. Psalm 37 “1 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers. 2 For they shall soon wither like the grass, and fade as the green herb. 9 For evil-doers shall be cut off; but those that wait for the LORD, they shall inherit the land.” Luke 21 “25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity. 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
E — The Salvation of Israel Comes Out of Zion
Psalm 14 “7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the LORD turneth the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”
Psalm 53 “7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God turneth the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.”
Comments: The Lord has determined that salvation does indeed come out of Zion, and his mercy has extended to even the gentiles. Isaiah 49 “6 I will also give thee for a light of the nations, that My salvation may be unto the end of the earth.” Zechariah 9 “9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee, he is triumphant, and victorious, lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.” — fulfilled in Luke 19:35. The most grievous captivity is not that which is perpetrated by other men. Jesus spoke to religious leaders who thought they were free, yet were in bondage they could not hope to break on their own. John 8 “34 Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Romans 6 “22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Ephesians 4 “8 When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” This freedom from captivity will lead all in Christ, Jew and gentile alike, to rejoice and be glad. And we don’t base this sure hope on the conditions we see all around the world, but we base it on our great, awesome, and faithful God whose love endures forever!
Reflections in Prayer
O Lord, it is only those who are senseless and without judgment who would willfully say that God is not. They may pridefully believe they have great wisdom, but they are bound for destruction because their attitude of heart is despicable and loathsome to you. When you view man through your righteous holiness, who among men could possibly even approach that standard of perfection? All of us in Adam’s race are sinful and need your faithful righteousness to escape judgment. The workers of iniquity who have scoffed at your authority shall certainly know that you are God, for their mistreatment of the righteous will be recompensed. They may be bold now, and show no fear for their actions; but they will be terrified when you call them to account. You set your name in Zion with a temple to draw all men to yourself, and by your divine will you sent our Savior there to pay the penalty for sin. When Jesus returns to Jerusalem, all who love your appearing will be glad and rejoice. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Published 15 November 2004