INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 53 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON MAHALATH, MASCHIL, [A PSALM] OF DAVID. The word "mahalath" is only used here and in Psalms 88:1. Some, with Aben Ezra, take it to be the first word of a song, to the tune of which this psalm was set; others, with Jarchi, that it is the name of a m... [ Continue Reading ]
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 DON... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD LOOKED DOWN FROM HEAVEN UPON THE CHILDREN OF MEN,.... In Psalms 14:2, it is read, "the Lord" or "Jehovah"; in everything else there is an agreement in this verse; Psalms 14:2; TO SEE IF THERE WERE [ANY] THAT DID UNDERSTAND; the Targum is, "that were understanding" in the law; it doubtless mean... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY ONE OF THEM IS GONE BACK,.... From God, and the way of his commandments. In Psalms 14:3, it is, "they are all gone aside"; Psalms 14:3; THEY ARE ALTOGETHER BECOME FILTHY; [THERE IS] NONE THAT DOETH GOOD, NO, NOT ONE. What follows in this verse is the same as Psalms 14:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY NO KNOWLEDGE?.... In Psalms 14:4, it is, "have all the workers", c. There are none of them but what have, unless given up to judicial blindness, and hardness of heart, to believe a lie, as antichrist and his followers, 2 Thessalonians 2:10 Psalms 14:4; WHO EAT UP MY P... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WERE THEY IN GREAT, FEAR, [WHERE] NO FEAR WAS,.... Before; neither of God nor man, nor any dread of punishment, but the utmost security, Revelation 18:7; also Psalms 14:5; FOR GOD HATH SCATTERED THE BONES OF [HIM] THAT ENCAMPETH [AGAINST] THEE; either against Christ, or against his church an... [ Continue Reading ]
O THAT THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL [WERE COME] OUT OF ZION!.... Or, "who will give f out of Zion the salvation of Israel?" The Targum adds, "except the Lord"; and this is a request to him for it: and, as in Psalms 14:7, it may be a wish for the first coming of Christ, to work out salvation for his peopl... [ Continue Reading ]