INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 14 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, [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 w... [ Continue Reading ]
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 y interpret it, making... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Psalms 14:1. There i... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Psalms 53:3 are, "everyone of them is gone back"; from God; have revolted from him, and turne... [ Continue Reading ]
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 shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
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 Psalms 53:5 it is added, "where... [ Continue Reading ]
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 r... [ Continue Reading ]
O THAT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL [WERE COME] OUT OF ZION!.... By whom is meant the Messiah, the Saviour of Israel, of all the elect of God, whether Jews or Gentiles; and who is so called, because the salvation of them was put into his hands, and he undertook it; and because he is the Captain and Autho... [ Continue Reading ]