The Fool's Way is No Way
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every 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 no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5 There were 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 despised them.
6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
--Psalm 53 KJV Bible
This is a psalm of David. In the song, David laments the moral foolishness and corruption of the human race and longs for the establishing of the righteous kingdom of the Lord on the earth.
Psalm 53 is nearly identical to Psalm 14. The only differences are verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 53. Some suggest that David was inspired to draw on Psalm 14 when similar events took place, but this time with a miraculous deliverance. David then adapted the song to reflect the new events, and thus created a new psalm.
The psalm description says that it is according to “Mahalath”--Hebrew, meaning “sickness.” It is thought to be the first word of a well-known tune to which the psalm is to be sung.
The psalm description states that this is a “maskil”--Hebrew, meaning “a hedge.” In the context of the psalms, it is thought to mean either a contemplative or teaching psalm, or a psalm written in a clever way. Thirteen psalms are described as "maskils." they include 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89 and 142.
In verses 1 through 4, David laments the moral foolishness and corruption of the human race. In verse 1, David uses the term "fool" for one who is morally perverse, not mentally deficient. Here David is describing one who believes there is no God and behaves as if there is no goodness. This one practices a practical rather than a theoretical atheism. In verses 2 and 3, David comments on the immorality of the generation. The Apostle Paul quotes these verses in his letter to the Romans, in agreement with David on the universal and perennial sinfulness of mankind (Romans 3:10-12). Since these are the same words as verses 2 and 3 of Psalm 14. It is not certain which psalm Paul had in mind when he quoted them. In verse 4, David is amazed by the wicked, who consume the righteous and give no thought of God.
The difference to Psalm 14 begins in verse 5. David’s words suggest that a miraculous deliverance took place. The enemy's forces, in their might, thought there was no need to fear. But then the sudden vengeance of God came on them. God defeated and scattered the forces so completely that there was no hope of restoration.
In verse 6 David longs for the establishing of the Messiah's kingdom on the earth, when God's Holy Spirit will be upon all, and God's Word will depart from none. The prophet Isaiah foretells it and the Apostle Paul echoes Isaiah's words (Isaiah 59:20-21; Romans 11:26-27).
Father, it can be so tempting to follow prevailing society--to practice a practical atheism. But then You bring events to remind me that their way is no way at all. Help me to hold fast to You. Give me the strength to be righteous in the midst of fools.
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2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every 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 no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5 There were 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 despised them.
6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
--Psalm 53 KJV Bible
This is a psalm of David. In the song, David laments the moral foolishness and corruption of the human race and longs for the establishing of the righteous kingdom of the Lord on the earth.
Psalm 53 is nearly identical to Psalm 14. The only differences are verses 5 and 6 of Psalm 53. Some suggest that David was inspired to draw on Psalm 14 when similar events took place, but this time with a miraculous deliverance. David then adapted the song to reflect the new events, and thus created a new psalm.
The psalm description says that it is according to “Mahalath”--Hebrew, meaning “sickness.” It is thought to be the first word of a well-known tune to which the psalm is to be sung.
The psalm description states that this is a “maskil”--Hebrew, meaning “a hedge.” In the context of the psalms, it is thought to mean either a contemplative or teaching psalm, or a psalm written in a clever way. Thirteen psalms are described as "maskils." they include 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89 and 142.
In verses 1 through 4, David laments the moral foolishness and corruption of the human race. In verse 1, David uses the term "fool" for one who is morally perverse, not mentally deficient. Here David is describing one who believes there is no God and behaves as if there is no goodness. This one practices a practical rather than a theoretical atheism. In verses 2 and 3, David comments on the immorality of the generation. The Apostle Paul quotes these verses in his letter to the Romans, in agreement with David on the universal and perennial sinfulness of mankind (Romans 3:10-12). Since these are the same words as verses 2 and 3 of Psalm 14. It is not certain which psalm Paul had in mind when he quoted them. In verse 4, David is amazed by the wicked, who consume the righteous and give no thought of God.
The difference to Psalm 14 begins in verse 5. David’s words suggest that a miraculous deliverance took place. The enemy's forces, in their might, thought there was no need to fear. But then the sudden vengeance of God came on them. God defeated and scattered the forces so completely that there was no hope of restoration.
In verse 6 David longs for the establishing of the Messiah's kingdom on the earth, when God's Holy Spirit will be upon all, and God's Word will depart from none. The prophet Isaiah foretells it and the Apostle Paul echoes Isaiah's words (Isaiah 59:20-21; Romans 11:26-27).
Father, it can be so tempting to follow prevailing society--to practice a practical atheism. But then You bring events to remind me that their way is no way at all. Help me to hold fast to You. Give me the strength to be righteous in the midst of fools.
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