Psalm 14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 14

It does not appear upon what occasion this psalm was penned nor whether upon any particular occasion. Some say David penned it when Saul persecuted him; others, when Absalom rebelled against him. But they are mere conjectures, which have not certainty enough to warrant us to expound the psalm by them. The apostle, in quoting part of this psalm (Rom. 3:10) to prove that Jews and Gentiles are all under sin (Rom. 3:9) and that all the world is guilty before God (Rom. 3:19), leads us to understand... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 14:1-3

If we apply our hearts as Solomon did (Eccl. 7:25) to search out the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness, these verses will assist us in the search and will show us that sin is exceedingly sinful. Sin is the disease of mankind, and it appears here to be malignant and epidemic. 1. See how malignant it is (Ps. 14:1) in two things:? (1.) The contempt it puts upon the honour of God: for there is something of practical atheism at the bottom of all sin. The fool hath said in his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 14:4-7

In these verses the psalmist endeavours, I. To convince sinners of the evil and danger of the way they are in, how secure soever they are in that way. Three things he shows them, which, it may be, they are not very willing to see?their wickedness, their folly, and their danger, while they are apt to believe themselves very wise, and good, and safe. See here, 1. Their wickedness. This is described in four instances:?(1.) They are themselves workers of iniquity; they design it, they practise it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14

INTRODUCTION TO Psalm 14 To the chief Musician, cf15I a Psalm of David. The argument of this psalm, according to Theodoret, is Sennacherib's invasion of Judea, when he sent Rabshakeh to Hezekiah, with menaces and curses; upon which Hezekiah implored divine help, and obtained it, and the Assyrian army was destroyed by an angel; of all which he thinks this psalm was prophetic. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:1

The fool hath said in his heart ,.... This is to be understood not of a single individual person, as Nabal, which is the word here used; nor of some Gentile king, as Sennacherib, or Rabshakeh his general, as Theodoret; nor of Nebuchadnezzar, nor of Titus, as some Jewish writers F25 Vid. Jarchi, Kimchi & Ben Melech in loc. interpret it, making one to be here intended, and the other in the fifty third psalm: the same with this; but of a body, a set of men, who justly bear this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:2

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men ,.... As he did when all flesh had corrupted its way, and before he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly, Genesis 6:12 . This is said in direct opposition to the atheistic thoughts and reasonings of wicked men, in Psalm 14:1 . There is a God, and he takes notice of the children of men, and of what is done by them; though his throne is in the heavens, and his dwelling there, yet he looks down from thence, and takes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:3

They are all gone aside ,.... As bankrupts, having run out their whole stock, and into debt, and have nothing to pay, nor make composition with, and are obliged to abscond, as Adam, Genesis 3:8 . The words in Psalm 53:3 are, "everyone of them is gone back"; from God; have revolted from him, and turned their backs upon him, and have gone back from his commandment, despised his law, and cast away his word. The Apostle Paul interprets it, "they are all gone out of the way"; out of God's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:4

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge ?.... Of the being of God, of the nature of sin, and of the punishment due unto it? This question is put either by way of admiration, as Kimchi and Aben Ezra observe; the psalmist, or rather God speaking after the manner of men, wondering that there should be such ignorance and stupidity among men, as before expressed; or rather, as denying this to be the case, and affirming that they have knowledge, notwithstanding they think, and say, and do,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:5

There were they in great fear ,.... This, shows that they had some knowledge of God, and consciousness of guilt, which they endeavoured to banish out of their minds by their fears of punishment; and these fears men of the most atheistic principles cannot get rid of. In Psalm 53:5 it is added, "where no fear was": that is, any cause or reason for it: such men are often frightened at their own shadows, afraid to be in the dark alone, as Hobbes the atheist was. The wicked flee when no man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 14:6

You have shamed the counsel of the poor ,.... The poor saints, the Lord's people, the generation of the righteous, who are generally the poor of this world; poor in spirit, and an afflicted people: and the counsel of them intends not the counsel which they give to others, but the counsel which they receive from the Lord, from the Spirit of counsel, which rests upon them, and with which they are guided; and this is to trust in the Lord, and to make him their refuge; and which is good advice,... read more

Group of Brands