Psalm 14 Commentary
The Hebrew words rendered ‘fool’ in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient. We can start with this footnote lifted from the New International Version Bible. This psalm is therefore talking about conduct and character that do not honor God rather than a direct reference to atheists.
When a society becomes lawless, mighty rules. Anarchy is the order of the day. Deception becomes the currency of trade. Righteousness suffers. Nothing works, not even for the perpetrators of evil. It’s the result of an absence of governance. Or, it could be the result of selected individuals electing to ignore governance. This psalm is referring to the later situation.
Governance is in place. Laws of righteousness are present. But who cares? The LORD is posing this question to the Body of Christ. In the midst of lawlessness, is there anyone out there looking at God and crying out to him for help? Is there anyone out there upset about the status quo, someone longing for the governance of God?
Think about it again. Each time we have sinned, we have always subtracted from or added to God’s character. Probably because we thought the LORD won’t act so we needed to act by ourselves. Probably we thought God’s justice wasn’t enough so we thought to do it by ourselves. Probably God’s timing wasn’t exactly the best so we decided to move in. Probably God doesn’t act at all, so we needed to act. We simply ignored the very nature and character of the Living God. But it’s a complete lack of wisdom. And we know it.
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