Psalm 53 Set to Mahalath. A Contemplation of David.
David meditated on new circumstances— perhaps the end of days. “This psalm differs very little from the fourteenth; and it is not known, nor has it been conjectured with much probability, on what account, or for what reason, the same sentiments are repeated in almost the same words. The variations, however, are sufficient to shew, that the psalm in one place was intentionally altered from that in the other.” (Thomas Scott) "‘The fool.’— the unregenerate race of fallen man. “In Scripture the fool and the sinner often mean the same person, and infidelity is therefore usually found connected with great depravity. Its progress is gradual; it begins by opposing those doctrines that impose restraint upon a man’s favorite vices, and from denying these it proceeds to deny others, and, finally, all the rest. This subject is very important to the age in which we live, Europe being deluged with impiety.” (S. Smith, D. D.) How about that of America today, yea, even that the whole earth!? Here is represented “the description of the apostasy, the complete turning away from God and opposition to God, which will hold sway [of the unregenerate] when Satan’s mighty man is on the earth.” (Arno Gaebelein)
1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.
The fool— “In Zephaniah 1:2, we have the whole Adamic race referred to in the singular ‘man.’ It is the same here. The Hebrew word for ‘fool’ here is [~Nabal- as the man who repaid David evil for good, 1 Samuel 25], which does not mean a simpleton, but one whose moral thinking is perverted and who has deliberately closed his mind against the reality of God and to the imperatives of God's moral government.’” (Burton Coffman)— “‘has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’; (Psalm 53:1a; Psalm 14:1a) no Governor, no Providence, no Judge.” (Joseph Sutcliffe) “He may not have said this to others; he may not have taken the position openly before the world that there is no God, but such a thought has passed through his mind, and he has cherished it; and such a thought, either as a matter of belief or of desire, is at the foundation of his conduct. He ‘acts’ as if such were his belief or his wish.” (Albert Barnes)
“‘They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.’ (Psalm 53:1b; Cp. Psalm 14:1b) The only change in this verse... is the substitution of the word ‘iniquity,’ in Psalm 53:1, for ‘works,’ in Psalm 14:1-7.” (Albert Barnes) It perhaps gives the sense of the complete depravity of human works. The sons of men do the works of their father, the devil. These, like Deog the Edomite of Psalm 52, knew good and evil but they love or prefer evil (Ps 52:3).
2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
“‘God looks down from heaven upon the children of men [as opposed to the children of God], to see if there are any who understand, who seek God’ (Cp. Psalm 14:2) The only change which occurs in this verse is the substitution of the word אלהים 'Elohiym rendered ‘God,’ for ‘Yahweh,’ rendered Lord, in Psalm 14:2. The same change occurs also in Psalm 14:4, Psalm 14:6. It is to be observed, also, that the word ‘Yahweh’ does not occur in this psalm, but that the term used is uniformly. אלהים 'Elohiym God.” (Albert Barnes) So here is a progression.
3 Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.
“‘Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none [of these scoundrels] who does good, no, not one.’ (Cp. Psalm 14:3) The only variation here in the two psalms is in the substitution of the word - סג sâg for סור sûr - words almost identical in form and in sense. The only difference in meaning is, that the former word - the word used here - means ‘to draw back,’ or ‘to go back;’ [perhaps a leaning] the other, the word used in Psalm 14:1-7, means ‘to go off, to turn aside.’...” (Albert Barnes)— perhaps abandoning the faith all together. They have a start in the faith, but turn back. “Those who go back from a religious profession, generally become most filthy, or most malicious persecutors, who of all sinners are most infatuated : for God ’hath despised,’ and will confound and destroy them.” (Thomas Scott)
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
“‘Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?’ (Cp. Psalm 14:4- ‘Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on Yahweh?’) He we find “the omission of the word ‘all.’” (Albert Barnes) and again the dropping of the covenant name by some previous professors. There are varying degrees of apostasy. But in the end, there will be only two classes— wheat or tares / sheep or goats.
5 There they are in great fear where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, because God has despised them.
“There they are in great fear,” (Ps 14:5) to which is now annexed, “‘where there was no fear [ of God].’ So there is a Day coming when even the fool will fear. “For” now as in Psalm 14, “God is with the generation of the righteous. You’— the fool— ‘shame[s] the counsel of the poor, but Yahweh is his refuge.’ (Psalm 14:5– 6) But in the Coming Day: “‘There they are in great fear where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;’ either against Christ, or against His church and people.” “The figure points to the most complete and terrible destruction of the enemies of the Church. Not only is their power broken and their forces dispersed, but they are slain, and their bones, unburied, are scattered upon the earth. Moll: ‘It was the greatest disgrace that the bones which had not been gathered and buried should be scattered to become the prey of wild beasts, or manure of the field’ (Psa ; Jer 8:2; Jer 9:22; Jer 16:4; Jer 25:33; Eze 6:5). The wicked must either submit themselves unto God, or suffer irretrievable overthrow.” (Preacher's Homiletical Commentary) ”Kimchi interprets it of the bones of the nations that shall encamp against Jerusalem, in the days of Gog; see Revelation 20:8; and Aben Ezra observes, that ‘thee’ respects either God or the Messiah;— ‘you have put them to shame,’— this is an address... of God the Father to his Son Christ Jesus; and so Kimchi and Ben Melech say this refers to the Messiah: and it may be expressive of the shame and confusion that antichrist and his followers will be thrown into, when they shall make war with the Lamb, and He shall overcome them, Revelation 17:14; ‘because God has despised them;’— or rejected them as reprobates; given them up to a reprobate mind; and being ungodly men, has ... ordained them to this condemnation.” (John Gill)
6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back [turns back] the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.
“‘Oh, that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back [or turneth back] the captivity of His people [by pouring our His Spirit on all flesh], Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.’ This longing for deliverance by the hand of Messiah is found throughout the Old Testament, just as a similar longing for the final revelation of the last Great Day of the Lord characterizes the New Testament, 1Co_16:22; Rev_22:20.” (Paul E Kretzmann) “The Vulgate more exactly renders the Hebrew, Quis dabit ex Zion salutare Israel? ‘Who will give out of Zion One to save Israel?’ The glory or shekinah dwelt in Zion, and Messiah arose of David’s line. Therefore this prayer is addressed to the Messiah in time of trouble, and in unison with all prayers of a like nature. ‘Thou that dwellest between the cherubims shine forth.’ Psalms 80:1. Other prophets have used the same language. ‘Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people.— Oh the Hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble.’ Habakkuk 3:13. Jeremiah 14:8.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)