Psalm 14 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
Verse 1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
The Hebrew word translated as “fool” is “nabal” and it means foolish, senseless, or fool. In 1 Samuel chapter 25 there is a story about a man whose name was Nabal who defied David and his men when they were warriors and hiding from King Saul. “Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings: and he was of the house of Caleb.” 1 Samuel 23:3 The name, Nabal, also means foolish or a fool and so perhaps this is where King David got the idea to use the word “nabal” in his Psalm and perhaps he was remembering this evil man as he penned this Psalm since he ended up marrying Abigail, Nabal’s widow. Notice that these people who deny there is a God are both corrupt (rotten, marred, evil and morally depraved) and they have engaged in behavior and practices that are detestable.
Application: So the Biblical definition of a fool is one who claims there is no God. So all atheists are fools and all who deny the true account of the LORD Jesus Christ coming to Earth to pay for the sins of mankind are all fools also. Since Jesus is God, very God, manifesting in a body of flesh, all the rebellious Jews past and present are fools as they deny the deity of Jesus and reject what He has done for them. When observing mankind it is very apparent that the Earth is populated with an abundance of fools, plain and simple. This is why Jesus stated that one should never call a brother a fool because if they have the sense to be converted and to follow Him, they cannot be fools. “. . . but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:22
Verses 2-3 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
This is one of the saddest verses in Scripture as it demonstrates the fallen nature of mankind and the state of the population of the world as seen through the eyes of a holy and righteous God. Earth’s inhabitants have turned away, departed, or as King David put it, gone aside from God their Creator. They are not even looking for the LORD. They are all fools and believe that there is no God to whom they will have to answer for their deeds, words, or thoughts. The Hebrew word translated as “filthy” is “alach” and means corrupt morally, or tainted. From God’s perspective, there is not even one man or woman that is doing good, appropriate, and morally righteous things.
Application: Since God has always had a remnant people following Him, what David felt and stated in verse 3 above most likely has not happened yet, but it will. I say, “most likely” because Scripture is silent regarding the 400 years of God’s silence between the prophet Malachi and the coming of John the Baptist and the LORD Jesus Christ. What mankind was like during those years regarding spirituality and serving the one true God is not known for sure as the empires of Persia, Greece, and Rome were all part of this time period. However, according to Scripture there will come a time when the true people of God will be taken out of the Earth and all those who are left will be the fools, the abominable, the haters of the LORD. Upon these people will the LORD bring forth judgement and condemnation. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Verse 4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
The word, iniquity, means wickedness, trouble. or sorrow. Here King David seems to ask the question above as if God was speaking and not as if the question is from him because David says, “who eat up my people” and “my people” is a phrase used by the LORD. The Hebrew word translated as “knowledge” is “yada” and it means to know, learn, perceive, find out and discern, to recognize, and to be acquainted with. So God is asking if all these workers of iniquity are void of any knowledge of Him because they treat His people like bread to be devoured and are not concerned about receiving any consequences of their actions from God, and because they never call upon Him.
Application: The question the LORD asks in verse 4 above is really a rhetorical question as it is impossible for anyone not to know that there is a God. People may use terms like the great architect, the great unknown, providence, or some other vague noun and avoid using His name, LORD Jesus Christ, but people know there is a specific design to all that is in the world and instead of admitting that there is a Creator or One who made everything from nothing, they simply ignore what they see and what their consciences are telling them and decide that God does not exist. But Scripture is clear that the knowledge of God is in His creation and easily seen and understood. “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” Romans 1:19-23 Later in the Psalms King David writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork” Psalm 19:1
Verse 5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
The Hebrew word translated as “generation” is “dowr” and it means generation, period, habitation, dwelling, age, or those living during a period of time. So King David is saying that God is in the period of time, the habitation and dwelling of the righteous. Since David was also a prophet, the righteous down through time and today also have God in them wherever they have their habitation or wherever they dwell. All nations and tongues where God’s righteous people dwell have Him with them at all times. Though the righteous seem to be powerless, they have the LORD God Almighty on their side.
Verse 6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
The fools or workers of iniquity have acted shamefully against the advice of the poor because the poor look to the LORD for a place of safety. The Hebrew word translated as “poor” is “aniy” and it means poor, afflicted, humble, wretched, needy, weak, and lowly.
Verse 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.
Verse 7 is prophetic and speaking about the coming of Jesus Christ to the Earth. King David was looking forward to the day when the coming Messiah would come to the nation Israel as prophesied by the prophets of old.
Application: This prophecy came true around 3 B.C. when God chose to come to this Earth and clothe Himself with a robe or body of flesh, that body being named by the angel of the LORD as JESUS which means Jehovah is salvation. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” So Jesus, the salvation of Israel to whom He was sent came out of Zion which is in Heaven and freed His people from the bondage of sin, death, and Hell. Jacob who is alive in Heaven must have rejoiced to see that day, and the nation Israel was glad in part as the poor people rejoiced in Jesus but the rich religious and legal leaders of the nation did not. The Israel of God today is the Church or all the people everywhere who have repented, been baptized in Jesus’ name, and filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit and who remain faithful to the LORD. The Israel of God is glad and rejoices with the hope of eternal life in Heaven with the LORD Jesus Christ.