The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good. Psalm 53:1
A Cry for Salvation
A contemplation of David. Like Psalm 14, this psalm decries the corruption of human race and describes the “fool” (morally lacking individual) who denies God. David yearns for the establishment of God’s kingdom.
53:1 In the Bible, the term fool does not mean mental incompetence, but moral and spiritual insensitivity. The fool is the one who ignores God.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good. Psalm 53:1
53:2-3. Human beings measure themselves against one another and deal with grades of good and bad. This psalm reflects God’s view that all mankind is depraved. Measured against God rather than against one another, “there is no one who does good.”
2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.
⇒ Before judging the fool in front of me, I should remember that “none does good” in God’s view and that includes me. We should bear this truth in mind and be humble. We all need the blood of Jesus Christ to cover us.
The Folly and Wickedness of Men
53 1 To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘Mahalath.’ A Contemplation of David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God? 5 There they are in great fear Where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them. 6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
53:4, 5 God has scattered the bones: This is a prophetic pronouncement of the final judgment on the wicked. Those who did not fear God will be filled with great fear, for God will come in His glory and power. One day there will be no more wickedness to contaminate the earth or to compromise the people of God.
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God? 5 There they are in great fear Where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them.
The Folly and Wickedness of Men
53 1 To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘Mahalath.’ A Contemplation of David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God. 3 Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one. 4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God? 5 There they are in great fear Where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them. 6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
