Psalms 14 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 14

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14:1   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
    there is none who does good.
2   The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,¹
    who seek after God.
3   They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
    there is none who does good,
    not even one.
4   Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
    who eat up my people as they eat bread
    and do not call upon the LORD?
5   There they are in great terror,
    for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6   You would shame the plans of the poor,
    but² the LORD is his refuge.
7   Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Footnotes

[1] 14:2 Or that act wisely
[2] 14:6 Or for

Commentary

The characteristics of the ungodly man. Each part of his life is corrupt. The Psalm actually casts its net wider, and finds that there are none who do good, see also Rom 3, where verses from this Psalm are quoted.

Bertrand Russell, the well-known athiest famously said; '‘It is no wonder if cruelty and religion has gone hand in hand.’ The Psalmist takes an entirely opposite view!

v1: The fool's heart is wrong, holding wrong beliefs, resulting in sinful actions, Prov 9.10; 2 Thess 2.4. Whilst he may not state his 'belief,' he thinks it in his heart, and he wishes it with his mind. See also Titus 1.16.

v2: His mind is wrong, his motives and understanding, John 2.24.

v3: His actions are wrong. Since man does not naturally seek God, his whole life is corrupted.

v4: The antagonism of man towards God is revealed in an antagonism towards God's people.

v5-6: The people of God respond in an appropriate way, for God is among them, and God is their refuge.

v7: Our dependence upon God, that He will restore His people. We cannot depend on people changing, rather we must look to the Lord to bless those who are His.