Psalms 53:0 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. read more
53:1 [To the chief Musician upon {a} Mahalath, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.] The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] {b} no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: [there is] none that doeth good.(a) Which was an instrument or king of note.(b) Whereas no regard is had for honesty or dishonesty, for virtue nor for vice, there the prophet pronounces that the people have no God. read more
53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did {c} seek God.(c) By which he condemns all knowledge and understanding that tends not to seek God. read more
53:4 Have the {d} workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread: they have not called upon God.(d) David pronounces God’s vengeance against cruel governors who having charge to defend and preserve God’s people, cruelly devour them. read more
53:5 There were they in great fear, [where] no {e} fear was: for God hath scattered the {f} bones of him that encampeth [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame, because God hath despised them.(e) When they thought there was no opportunity to fear, the sudden vengeance of God lighted on them.(f) No matter how great the enemies power is, or fearful the danger, yet God delivers his in due time. read more
CONTENTS Here is a short, but striking account of sin in a natural man's heart, as was given before, in the fourteenth Psalm. The sinner is expostulated with upon the occasion; and the Psalmist takes occasion, from such a state of man's ruin by nature, to pray for his recovery by grace in the salvation of Christ. To the chief musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Psalms 53:0 Having already offered an humble comment upon this Psalm, as numbered before the 14th, I think it... read more
Ziph lay to the south of Juda. (Haydock) --- David was rescued from the most imminent danger, by an irruption of the Philistines. He then composed this canticle, expressing his sentiments in danger, and his gratitude to God. (Calmet) --- It may also be used by any person in distress. (Worthington) --- The Church orders it to be said by her ministers at Prime, that they may be protected from all their spiritual enemies. (Berthier) --- The Fathers apply it to Jesus Christ, (St. Hilary) or to his... read more
Name, which is a strong tower, (Proverbs xviii. 10.; Calmet) event thyself. Hence it is so criminal to take it in vain. (Berthier) --- Judge. Ancient psalters have, "deliver." Saul and the Zipheans persecute me unjustly. I commit my cause to thee. (Haydock) --- Defend me for the justice of my cause. (Worthington) read more
Strangers. Barbarous, (Worthington) enemies, though of the same tribe. (Calmet) --- Hostis dicebatur quem nunc peregrinum dicimus. (Cicero, Off. i.) --- The devil and our passions, as well as the world, are such to us. (Berthier) read more
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Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 53:1-6
Psalms 53:1-6IN this psalm we have an Elohistic recast of Psalms 14:1-7, differing from its original in substituting Elohim for Jehovah (four times) and in the language of Psalms 53:5. There are also other slight deviations not affecting the sense. For the exposition the reader is referred to that of Psalms 14:1-7. It is only necessary here to take note of the divergences.The first of these occurs in Psalms 53:1. The forcible rough construction "they corrupt, they make abominable," is smoothed... read more