Psalms 14:4-5. Have all the workers &c.— Do they not observe, all the dealers in vanity, devourers of my people? They eat bread, they called not upon the Lord: Psalms 14:5. They were upon the spot, in a great fear: Mudge: who remarks, that these words point at something which had lately happened at an impious entertainment, where God sufficiently discovered his favour to his people, as well as his vengeance to their enemies. read more
Psalms 14:6. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor— Will ye shame the counsel of the afflicted?—"Will ye now shame, or laugh at the poor oppressed people, for making God their refuge? Psalms 14:7. O that I could once see them back again in their own land!" This great event, probably, gave the author spirit to hope; and therefore in the view of it he proceeds exultingly, When the Lord, &c. See Mudge; who begins the 6th verse with the last clause of the 5th, thus: Yes, God is in the... read more
PSALM 14 :-. The practical atheism and total and universal depravity of the wicked, with their hatred to the good, are set forth. Yet, as they dread God's judgments when He vindicates His people, the Psalmist prays for His delivering power. read more
1. Sinners are termed "fools," because they think and act contrary to right reason (Genesis 34:7; Joshua 7:15; Psalms 39:8; Psalms 74:18; Psalms 74:22). in his heart—to himself (Genesis 6:12). read more
2. looked—in earnest enquiry. understand—as opposed to "fool" [Psalms 14:1]. read more
3. filthy—literally, "spoiled," or, "soured," "corrupted" (Job 15:16; Romans 3:12). read more
4-6. Their conduct evinces indifference rather than ignorance of God; for when He appears in judgment, they are stricken with great fear. who eat up my people—to express their beastly fury (Proverbs 30:14; Habakkuk 3:14). To "call on the Lord" is to worship Him. read more
7. captivity—denotes any great evil. Zion—God's abode, from which He revealed His purposes of mercy, as He now does by the Church (compare Psalms 3:4; Psalms 20:2), and which He rules and in which He does all other things for the good of His people (Ephesians 1:22). read more
A fool (Heb. nabal) is a person who has a problem in his or her heart more than in the head. He does not take God into account as he goes about living and is therefore morally insensitive (cf. 1 Samuel 25:25; Isaiah 32:4-7). He may or may not really be an atheist, and he is not necessarily ignorant, but he lives as though there is no God. This conclusion leads him to disregard the revelations God has given of Himself, attention to which are essential for wise living (cf. Proverbs 1:7; Romans... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 14:3
Psalms 14:3. They are all gone aside, &c.— St. Paul, having cited this verse, Romans 3:10; Rom 3:31 subjoins three others, which are translated in the liturgy version of the church of England, but are not to be found in the modern Hebrew. In order to support the integrity of the Hebrew text, it has been supposed that the apostle, in his quotation, has cited from unconnected places, and different parts of scripture, and that the three verses which are to be met with in the Vatican copy of... read more