Psalms 14 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

The fool — The wicked man. Good — That is, actions really good or pleasing to God.

Looked — God knoweth all things without any enquiry: but he speaks after the manner of men. Upon — Upon the whole Israelitish nation, and upon all mankind for he speaks of all except his people, and the righteous ones, who are opposed to these, Psalms 14:4-5.

Gone — From God, and from the rule which he hath given them. Filthy — Loathsome and abominable to God.

Bread — With as little remorse, and with as much greediness. Call not — They are guilty not only of gross injustice towards men, but also of horrid impiety and contempt of God.

There — Upon the spot, where they practised these insolences, God struck them with a panick fear. For — God is on their side, and therefore their enemies have cause to tremble.

Because — This was the ground of their contempt, that he lived by faith in God's promise and providence.

O that — These words immediately concern the deliverance of Israel out of that sinful state, in which they now were; which having described, he concludes, with a prayer to God to help them out of Zion, where the ark then was, but principally they design the spiritual redemption and salvation of all God's Israel by the Messiah. The captivity — His captive people. The children of Jacob, as Aaron is named for his sons, 1 Chronicles 12:27.