This Psalm portrays that man is universally corrupt and seeks not after God. There is none who does good, not even one. But God has a people, a chosen generation whom He is delighted to defend in their righteousness and strike if they should continue in their sins. So, although man is corrupted universally, yet God is willing to be a refuge for the poor and the bringer of salvation for those who have been oppressed by evil and wicked men who are nothing but fools due to their idle belief that there is no God.
14:1 To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." Here is the height of human folly which displays the darkness of the human heart. Only a fool can utter and declare that there is no God. These are by nature called athiest, who deny the existence of God. through reason and logic and with exertion of their darkened intellect, they would go at length to deny their maker and creator. They are the one's who suppress the truth of the existence of God through their unrigteous thinking coming to erroneous conclusion. They declare their belief loud and clear, possesing no shame of such a vile view but persisting and encouraging others to do the same. There are other kinds of athiest, those of a subtle nature who would not openly deny the existence of God in the public square but will deny him with joy in the secrets of their heart. They do so as to justify their ungodly ways. This hearty denial soothes the aching consience of their soul, that if there be no God, no govenor nor judge over their conduct then they are free do as their heart wishes.
The character of the fool is that by nature
they are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, and there is none who does good. Out of all the fools, there in none who does good. Not a single rigteous deed which may commend them before God because God has seen the gull of their hearts and it appals him for it is to him a filthy stench. Both types of athiest are fools because they fail to give glory to their maker and have forsaking that first principle of wisdom which is to fear the Lord and to depart from evil. The fool is in a terrible condition because no matter how much of his affirmation or how wise the world considers him to be yet he cannot escape the reality that there is a living God to whom at the end of his days, he would give an account. And on that day, I dare say that God himself will call such individuals fools and cast them away from his presence and give them their due. In that day the fool will become wise but his wisdom will not save him. So I plead with you to forsake your foolishness and affirm the existence of God and live your lives in a manner which displays this reality.
While there are many fools among men who are corrupt and abominable and do no good, God has taken it upon himself to survey all of mankind to see if there is any rigteous soul.
Vs 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. Mankind is God's creation whom he created after his own image and whom He gave steward over all of creation and are to be His image bearers. But man has failed so desperately that apart from grace there is no one good, no one righteous, no one able to please God, no one able to perfectly reflect His image. If grace had been withheld from all humanity, none would by nature possess any inclination to seek after God let alone to seek his face.
God's conclusion on wandering humanity to his own question whether there be any who understands or seeks after him is conclusive for Yahweh is the best researcher of all; for no data is elusive from his gaze and his analysis is of the highest standard. His conclusion is that (
Psa 14:3) They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
This here confirms that doctrince of total depravity. Man is corrupt, the apostasy is universal and each soul left to itself is dead. They have all turned aside, aside from what? aside from God. They have neglected his ways and rule and have preffered their own. Sin is simply a rebellion against God which is by nature rooted in men's soul until the divine spirit wrought a regenerating work and brings them to repentance. Each man of every generation is corrupt until it pleases the Lord to work his grace upon their hearts; beating their swords into ploughshares and substituting their prisons for the open space. Every man is in need of salvation except one who bore the cross for vile men so that they may be as He is.
Oh my fellow men, do not count the work of the cross as a work to be traded for a piece of meat but rather excite your heart at such grace and love of a mighty Holy God shown towards rebels in redeeming them from the jaws of imminent death.
Clearly all who continue in their rebellion have no knowledge of God and as such will continue more earnestly to persecute those who belong to God.
Vs 4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? This shows the ignorance and stupidity of men who continue in their rebellion because if they had any knowledge they would know that there is a God who will avenge his people and will punish them eternally for their wicked ways. But such is the ways of fools that they are blinded by their sins. The devil has done a good work in keeping them in the dark about their eternal misery and thus many walk in false hope and continue their persuit in letting sin reign in their mortal body. If they had any knowledge of God and of their true condition, they would be found as many saints to be on their knees seeking the way of salvation for many a night until a path is shown and given to them. But they have no knowledge and will not call upon the name of the Lord. Fools are no friends of prayer but the righteous will daily call upon the name of their God.
Do you call upon the name of the Lord or have you asserted yourself to be wise in your own eyes? Will you continue in your wickedness and not call upon the name of the Lord? I beseech you to dismantle your sword and understand the mountain which stands before you; I ask for you to be wise and understand that there is no victory for those who are against God but there is eternal life for those who have joined His cause in gloryfying His name.
Vs 5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
Those who have not called upon the name of the Lord due to their stuipidity and wickedness will be found to be in a great terror. For when the Lord uplifts his arm and bend his bow, and decides to show men the greatness of his power, there they will be in great terror. Each man will fall of his horse because of the sudden terror which has engulfed his soul and will immediately seek for the mountain to fall upon him but it will be that dreadful wrath which will crush him. But when the righteous behold the greatness of God, there is no need to fear, for God is their champion. He is with them and for them; He is entirely for their good and they know that no harm will fall upon them. He is their nest, their shelter and a refuge.
But wicked men still adamant in their persuit of fufilling all of their ungodly desires aims
Vs 6 to shame the plans of the poor. These are the poor saints, the people of the Lord of which the majority in the world are poor; poor in spirit and afflicted by various persecutions.
The wicked shame God's poor by insulting their plans and security. They see themselves as wise because they place no trust in God but in themselves and thus see it fitting to mock those who put their trust in Yahweh. But fools they are because
God is there refuge. God's poor are eternally secured and whatever may befall them in this life is for their good while those who are arrogant will perish eternally unless they repent.
The scripture also warns those who thinks themselves wise to become fools so that they may learn the gospel of Christ. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing and it is written that God "will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning, I will thwart". Therefore God is against you and has made foolish the wisdom of the wise. Only foolish men will say whether in speech or in their heart, that there is no God. But for God's poor, Jesus Christ is their wisdom and God's poor can always be recognized because they have trusted and believed in the gospel of their God. Those who do not believe are outsiders and fools. We pray for God's grace to convert their souls as He did ours so that fools may become poor men who are entirely dependant on their God and have forsaken their earthly wisdom.
The psalmist affirms that God is the refuge of his people and upon this affirmation the psamist being an Israelite cries out,
Vs 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.
Salvation is being asked for; a salvation which will cause the heart of the people to rejoice. This salvation should come out of zion as the psalmist pleads for the deliverance of God's people.
This salvation will secure God's people; in that day God's poor will rejoice and be glad because God has delivered and rescued them. After being so many years under the yoke of wicked men and being trampled underfoot, they are now free creatures under the command of a new Master.
This salvation which will come out of Zion is the messiah. The one who was born in the fullness of time, born of a virgin. This messiah would lead a poor life, carrying his cross and die an accursed death. Yet He rose form the dead and was crowned King over all of his enemies and delivers all of his sheep from the enemies camp. This Messiah is Jesus, who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He restores the fortunes of his people by granting them eternal life and given them riches which the earth cannot store, which will never fade nor perish. It is everlasting and incorruptible.
The fool says in his heart there is no God but the wise declares there is a God and His name is Father Son and Spirit. Will you not today be a wise man and live entirely for Jesus or will you be a fool and perish in your unbelief where you will live in miserable and agonizing conditions for all eternity. If this does not at all bother you because of your hardend heart, consider the worst pain you have endured does far, both physically and spiritually. If you do not repent of your foolishness today this will be your portion for all eternity. Only fools walk this road but the wise will lay down their swords of rebellion and dutifully and joyfully bowdown to the King of the land.
K.Oni
