Psalms 53:1

_THE FOOL HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, THERE IS NO GOD. CORRUPT ARE THEY, AND HAVE DONE ABOMINABLE INIQUITY: THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD._ The alterations made in this revised version by David of Psalms 14:1 are to substitute rare, elevated, and forcible forms for commoner terms. The title "Upon Mahalath" is an enigmatical description of the subject: 'Upon sickness.' Compare title, Psalms 88:1, where it is connected with "Leannoth," concerning the tribulation. The sickness here in Psalms 53:1 is man's spiritual malady. MASCHIL. The 'instruction' aimed at is to bring reckless man (Psalms 53:2) to spiritual understanding. I

PSALM LIII _The sentiments of atheists and deists, who deny Divine_ _Providence; their character: they are corrupt, foolish,_ _abominable, and cruel_, 1-4; _God fills them with terror_, 5; _reproaches these for their oppression of the poor_, 5. _The psalmist prays for the restoration of Israel_, 6. NOTES ON PSALM LIII The _title, To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, an instructive_ _Psalm of David_. The word מחלת _machalath_, some translate the _president_; others, the _master_ or _leader of the dance_; others, _hollow instruments_; others, the

THE FOOL HATH SAID IN HIS HEART ... - For the meaning of this verse, see the notes at Psalms 14:1. The only change in this verse - a change which does not affect the sense - is the substitution of the word “iniquity,” in Psalms 53:1, for “works,” in Psalms 14:1....

EXPOSITION THIs psalm is a repetition of Psalms 45:1; with certain not very important variations. The most remarkable is the substitution throughout of" Elohim" for "Jehovah." The only variations which alter the sense are in Psalms 45:5. These cannot be accounted for by corruption, and seem to indicate a retouching of the original composition in order to adapt it to a special occasion. The expression, "upon Mahalath," or, "set to Mahalath," in the title, is thought to be a musical direction, and is explained by Dr. Kay as equivalent to the modern _Maestoso._ PSALMS 53:1 AND...

THE FOOL HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, [THERE IS] NO GOD,.... The Targum adds, "of whom is revenge"; or there is no God to punish and avenge the wicked; CORRUPT ARE THEY; the Chaldee paraphrase is, "the wicked have corrupted their ways"; as all flesh had done in the old world, Genesis 6:12; AND HAVE DONE ABOMINABLE INIQUITY; iniquity is the abominable thing that God hates, and makes men abominable in his sight; in Psalms 11:1, it is read, "abominable worlds": the Targum paraphrases the words, "they are far from good, for iniquity is found in them"; see Revelation 21:8; [THERE IS] NONE THAT DOETH GOOD;...

MAHALATH Mahalath, apparently a temple choir. MASCHIL Maschil, "instruction....

Psalms 53 The Apostasy Under the Man of Sin This Psalm is in greater part the same as the fourteenth. It is the description of the apostasy, the complete turning away from God and opposition to God, which will hold sway when Satan's mighty man is on the earth. Then the godly remnant will sigh for the coming of salvation out of Zion....

LIII. See Psalms 14....

TITLE. MASCHIL. Instruction (the sixth of thirteen Psalms so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32, and App-65, as to the faction of the Tyrant of Psalms 52. This Psalm for public use. See note at end. Hence Elohim (App-4), the Creator in relation to His creatures.. partial repetition of Psalms 14, which was not for public use (as Psalms 53 was); therefore Jehovah (David's God) there, and Elohim (the creature's Creator) here. FOOL. May not this refer to Nabal? GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim._ App-4. I. Seven times in this Psalm. In Psalms 14 three times Elohim, and four timesJehovah. E

_The fool_ A class of men, not a particular individual. The word _nâbâl_here used for fool denotes moral perversity, not mere ignorance or weakness of reason. -Folly" is the opposite of -wisdom" in its highest sense. It may be predicated of forgetfulness of God or impious opposition to His will (Deuteronomy 32:6; Deuteronomy 32:21; Job 2:10; Job 42:8; Psalms 74:18; Psalms 74:22): of gross offences against morality ...