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Psalms 14:1-7 open_in_new
Psalms 14:1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
He was a fool to think it. He was not fool enough, however, to say it except in his heart. Fools have grown more brazen-faced of late; for now, they not only say it in their heart, but they say with their tongues, «There is no God.» Oh, no; I have made a mistake! They do not call them «fools» now; they call them «philosophers.» That, however, is often exactly the same thing.
Psalms 14:1. They are corrupt,
It is always so. When they will have no God, they will have no goodness «They are corrupt.» That is the secret of infidelity. The psalmist has put his finger on it: «They are corrupt.»
Psalms 14:1-2. They have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
David represents God looking from the battlements of heaven upon our fallen humanity; and at the time when he looked, he could see none that understood him, or sought him. By nature we are all in this condition. Until the grace of God seeks us, we never seek God. Even God looked in vain. He was no stern critic; he was no hypercritic: «The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.»
Psalms 14:3. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
«That was in old Testament times,» says one. If you turn to the Epistle to the Romans, you will find that Paul quotes it as being true in his day. It is always true, and it always will be true, apart from the grace of God: «There is none that doeth good; no, not one.»
Psalms 14:4. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge?
Are they all so foolish?
Psalms 14:4. Who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
They think nothing of God's people. They could swallow them at a mouthful, they so despise them. Notice, that, whenever a man despises God, he soon despises God's people; it is only natural that he should do so. Meanwhile, he himself will not call upon the Lord.
Psalms 14:5. There were they in great fear:
What, these very people who would not call upon God! Were they in great fear? Yes, God can bring great fear upon the men who seem most bold. It is noticed that the boldest blasphemers, when they become ill, are generally the most timid persons. These are the people who begin to cry, and give up what they boasted of, when they get into deep waters: «There were they in great fear.»
Psalms 14:5. For God is in the generation of the righteous.
He is with his people, he always will be with his people, and when he makes bare his arm, fear takes possession of his enemies.
Psalms 14:6. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
They mocked at the idea of a mans trusting in God for his daily bread, or trusting in God for his eternal salvation; but, mock as men may, there is no other refuge for a soul but God. When the floods are out, there is no safety but in the ark with God. Oh, that men would trust in him!
Psalms 14:7. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
May that time soon come! Amen.
This exposition consisted of readings from PSALMS 12, 13, and 14.