Psalm 14:1-3 ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God . An atheism is here depicted which goes beyond even that of Psalms 10:1-18 . There the existence of God was not so much denied as his providence. Here his existence is not only denied, but denied in the very depths of the man's heart. He has contrived to convince himself of what he so much wishes. The psalmist regards such a state of mind as indicative of that utter perversity and folly which is implied in the term nabal ( נָבַל ). ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1

The fool's creed, and its consequences. "The fool hath said," etc. This is very plain speaking. Bible writers are not wont to wrap their meaning in soft phrases. They utter truth in words clear as sunbeams, keen as lightning. This word "fool" refers to character rather than understanding. The psalmist has in his eye one blinded by worldliness or besotted with vice, who can see no charm in virtue, no beauty in holiness, no loveliness, grandeur, attractiveness, in Divine truth. "The fool's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

The depravity of a godless world, viewed by God. This psalm is given us twice—as the fourteenth and the fifty-third. It is one of those which assumes a revelation of God as a redeeming God, and also the existence of a redeemed people of God. And by way of consequence it assumes the necessity of a Divine redemption in order to bring about "the generation of the righteous." This could only have come about by Divine grace and by Divine power. Hence the very manifest distinction noted in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

Right views of God's government. I. In considering God's moral government of the world, we should be careful to TAKE THE RIGHT STANDPOINT . Much depends on the way we look at things. We may be too near or too far off; we may lean too much to the one side or to the other. Here the standpoint is not earth, but "heaven." This is the perfect state. Here we take our place by the side of God, and look at things in the light of his truth. If we have the Spirit of Christ, the true Son of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

Conflict between God and the wicked. The psalmist beans by lamenting the extent and the power of the atheism which reigns among men ( Psalms 14:1-3 ). But the righteous who have to suffer much on account of it, must not therefore despair; fools shall certainly bring destruction upon themselves ( Psalms 14:4-6 ). He closes with the prayer that God would send deliverance to his people ( Psalms 14:7 ). I. ATHEISM . ( Psalms 14:1-3 .) 1 . Atheism in the thought and in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:2

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men . Corruption having reached such a height as it had, God, is represented as looking down from heaven with a special object—to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. To see, i.e; if among the crowd of the "abominable" doers spoken of in Psalms 14:1 there were any of a better spirit, and possessed of understanding, and willing to seek after God. But it was in vain. The result of his scrutiny appears in the next... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:3

They are all gone aside . Haccol ( הַכֹּל ), "the totality"—one and all of them had turned aside, like the Israelites at Sinai ( Exodus 32:8 ); they had quitted the way of righteousness, and turned to wicked courses. The expression "denotes a general—all but universal-corruption" ('Speaker's Commentary'). They are all together become filthy; literally, sour , rancid— like milk that has turned, or butter that has become bad. There is none that doeth good, no, not one. St. Paul's... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 14:1

The fool - The word “fool” is often used in the Scriptures to denote a wicked man - as sin is the essence of folly. Compare Job 2:10; Psalms 74:18; Genesis 34:7; Deuteronomy 22:21. The Hebrew word is rendered “vile person” in Isaiah 32:5-6. Elsewhere it is rendered “fool, foolish,” and “foolish man.” It is designed to convey the idea that wickedness or impiety is essential folly, or to use a term in describing the wicked which will, perhaps, more than any other, make the mind averse to the sin... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 14:2

The Lord looked down from heaven - The original word here - שׁקף shâqaph - conveys the idea of “bending forward,” and hence, of an intense and anxious looking, as we bend forward when we wish to examine anything with attention, or when we look out for one who is expected to come. The idea is that God looked intently, or so as to secure a close examination, upon the children of men, for the express purpose of ascertaining whether there were any that were good. He looked at all men; he examined... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 14:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 14:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 14:2

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