시편 Chapter 53

Translation: ESV

1

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

Key Message

Denying God is not intellectual foolishness but moral distortion, and its result is the corruption of life.

▸Nearly identical to Psalm 14, this psalm designates the atheistic attitude of 'there is no God' as 'foolishness.

Nearly identical to Psalm 14, this psalm designates the atheistic attitude of 'there is no God' as 'foolishness.' This foolishness is not an intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual distortion. The theological connection — that the result of a life that does not acknowledge God is corruption and evil — is central.

Related Verses

As it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one.'
2

God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

Key Message

God looks upon humanity and watches for those with understanding who seek him.

▸The image of God looking down on humanity resembles the Tower of Babel account in Genesis 11.

3

They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Key Message

The universal human condition apart from God is corruption, which confirms the necessity of salvation.

▸The result of God's scrutiny is disappointing.

4

Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon God?

Key Message

Those who do not acknowledge God have no hesitation in exploiting their neighbors.

▸The vivid image of 'eating' God's people depicts oppressors exploiting the poor.

5

There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

Key Message

Those who do not fear God ultimately face unexpected terror.

▸The wicked lived without fear of God, but when God's judgment comes they are seized by overwhelming terror.

6

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Key Message

Despite human sinfulness, God saves his people and restores them.

▸After the dark and despairing description of human sinfulness, the psalm concludes with a longing for God's salvation.