The Book of Psalms
Psalm 53
Psalm LIII · Vol. II, p. 1021
1 David describeth the corruption of a natural man. 4 He convinceth the wicked by the light of their own conscience. 6 He wisheth to see the salvation of God.
To the chief musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A psalm of David.
1 The afool1 hath said in his heart, There is no God. bCorrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.*
B.C. cir. 1021.
1 The fool. The depraved (Bythner)—which best accords with the following description.—C.
b Ge.6.5,11,12. Job 14.4; 15.16. Ro.3.10-18. Ep.5.12.
* There is a close resemblance, not merely in sentiment but in language, between this psalm and Ps.xiv. 'Both are ascribed to the same author, David; and each pursues the same line of thought—the folly and wickedness of atheism. They both show that the belief that there is no God is not a harmless idea, or a mere speculation, but that it has important influences upon the life, and is naturally connected with a wicked life.'—P.
2 Godc looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Everyd one of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity eno knowledge? who geat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5 There were they in great fear,3 where no fear was; for God hath hscattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, ibecause God hath despised them.
3 Heb. they feared a fear, Job 15.21. Le.26.17,36. De.28.65-67. Pr.28.1.
h Ps.141.7. Is.37.36. 2 Sa.v.viii.x.
i Je.6.30.
6 Oh that the salvation4 of Israel were come out of Zion! When jGod bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
4 Heb. Who will give salvations, &c., Ps.60.12. Lu.2.10,11,26,30,38. Mat.1.21. Tit.2.11,13.
j Ps.126.1-3.
Notes
Ver. 4. My people was the specific title given to Israel in Egypt, Ex. 3. 7; 5. 1, and he who so names them here can be no other than Christ, 'the Lord that bought them,' the Angel of the covenant 'who redeemed them.' C.
Ver. 5. There—that is, where the enemy had cruelly attempted to devour God's people.—Who were in 'great fear?' The people of God; and while they trembled, 'no fear was,' for God immediately 'scattered the bones' of all their assailants. C.
Reflections.—What a fountain of atheism is in our hearts! What folly—what filth—what evil—is in every sin? and yet what unnumbered acts and fearful fruits of it everywhere abound in the world! But fear and shame shall at last overwhelm the sinners, particularly those who ate up, persecuted, and oppressed the people of God. Even the marvellous salvation of men through Christ shall contribute to the everlasting undoing of obstinate sinners. We are taught in the Scriptures that Christ is a Saviour of life or a Saviour of death.