Salmos 14
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Salmos 14:1-3
14:1 "fool" This psalm is almost exactly like Psalm 53. This word (BDB 614 I) refers to people who should know YHWH but choose to live as if He does not affect their lives. There were no atheists in the philosophical sense in the ANE, but many of the covenant people were practical atheists (cf. Deut. 32:6,21; 2 Sam. 13:13; Ps. 10:4,11,13; 53:1; 74:22; Ezek. 13:3). The proverb of Luke 12:48 surely applies to these people. SPECIAL TOPIC: FOOLISH PEOPLE ▣ Notice how "the fool" is characterized. they are corrupt ‒ BDB 1007, KB 1469, Hiphil PERFECT (i.e., a settled condition) they have committed abominable deeds ‒ BDB 1073, KB 1765, Hiphil PERFECT (i.e., a settled condition) ▣ "There is no God" This is the recurrent falsehood propogated by the wicked (cf. Ps. 10:4; 14:1; 36:1). There is no deity to judge their motives and/or actions. This is the essence of a "fool." ▣ "abominable deeds" See Special Topic below. SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT) ▣ "There is no one who does good" This is a general statement on the spiritual condition of fallen mankind, even the covenant people. It is elaborated on in Ps. 14:2-3. Notice how fallen humanity is characterized. no one does good, Ps. 14:1,3 (inclusive) no one understands no one seeks after God all have turned aside (see note at Ps. 14:3) all have become corrupt One clearly sees the influence of Genesis 3 on all humanity. Paul put together a powerful litany of verses on human rebellion in Rom. 3:9-18,23. He quotes Ps. 14:1-3; 53:1-4; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isa. 59:7-8; Ps. 36:1. This truth is the first truth of the gospel (Rom. 1:18-3:18). The gospel is "good news" in light of the bad news! 14:2 "The Lord has looked down from heaven" YHWH was believed to dwell in heaven, from which He sees and knows all that occurs on earth (acts, motives, intents, cf. Ps. 33:13,14; 102:19; Job 28:24). YHWH, so different from the idols, sees, knows, and acts (cf. Gen. 11:5; 18:21; Exod. 2:25; 3:7)! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD 14:3 "they have turned aside" This VERB (BDB 693, KB 747, Qal PERFECT) denotes a settled action. YHWH's covenant was a clearly-marked path/road/way. His people were to stay on this straight (i.e., righteous) and narrow road, but they did not (cf. Exod. 32:8; Deut. 9:12; 11:16; 17:11,17; Jdgs. 2:17; 1 Sam. 12:20; 2 Kgs. 22:2; Jer. 5:23; 17:13; 32:40). The turning away was not an act of ignorance but purposeful rebellion! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY ▣ "not even one" This is very emphatic! See Paul's comment in Rom. 3:10-18,23. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND
Salmos 14:4-6
14:4-6 This strophe heightens the results of "not knowing" (BDB 393, KB 390, Qal PERFECT). The VERB "know" can denote an intimate, personal relationship, not just facts. The actions of the wicked against the poor, needy, and those with no social voice or power will be judged by God, their protector (cf. Deut. 10:17-19; 14:29; 24:17,19-22; 26:12,13; 27:19)! He is their "refuge" (BDB 340, cf. Ps. 2:12; 5:11; 34:22). To attack them is to attack Him. He will defend them. SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE 14:4 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, LXX "do not call upon the Lord" "they never pray to me" NJB, REB "they never call to YHWH" "do not invoke the Lord" The VERB (BDB 894, KB 1128, Qal PERFECT) is a common one used in many ways (i.e., a wide semantic field). In Psalms it has several usages. of priests in ritual and prayer ‒ Ps. 99:6 of the prayers of the covenant people ‒ Ps. 4:3; 20:9; 50:15; 86:5; 91:15; 107:6,13; 116:2; 141:1 the nations do not call on YHWH (i.e., Ps. 79:6; the NASB 1970, wrongly translates this as Adon, but in the MT it is YHWH) but Israel does ‒ Ps. 14:4; 50:15; 53:4 In the NT this OT worship phrase (i.e., ritual and prayer) becomes a way of denoting entrance into a relationship with YHWH through Jesus (cf. Acts 2:21; 22:16; Rom. 10:9-13). We are a called people who call on the name of the Lord and are then called to service! Prayerlessness is a sign of false faith and practical atheism! SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON THE NAME SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NAME OF THE LORD (NT) 14:5 "There they are in great dread" Literally this is "they feared a fear" (Qal PERFECT and NOUN of the same root; BDB 808, KB 922). Since "there" is undefined, some switch it to the end of the phrase and add "where there is no fear" (AB, NJB).
Salmos 14:7
14:7 "O, that the salvation of Israel" This is a title for YHWH who dwells in Zion (i.e., Mt. Moriah, the temple). Notice the parallel of "YHWH" in line 2. This verse is also found in Ps. 53:6, which means it may be proverbial. The LXX makes this first line a question. SPECIAL TOPIC: ZION SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OT term) ▣ "restores" This same VERB (BDB 996, KB 1427) also can mean "repent" or "turn back." However, in this context Israel is not called on to repent. There is a word play between "restores" (BDB 996) and "fortunes" (BDB 986). The footnote in the NET Bible has "turns with a turning (toward) his people" (see v. 5b, YHWH is with His people). ▣ "Jacob. . .Israel" The Patriarch Jacob had twelve children who became the thirteen tribes (Joseph's two sons were both adopted by Jacob). Jacob's name was changed to Israel in Gen. 32:22-32. SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (THE NAME) ▣ "restores His captive people" One could interpret this phrase as released from exile released from the domination of evil people This Psalm seens to look back to Genesis 3; 10-11, but also refers to the national conflicts that the nation of Israel faced. ▣ "rejoice. . .be glad" Both of these VERBS denote the result of restoration. VERBS in Hebrew take their time orientation from the context. This context is future. rejoice ‒ BDB 162, KB 189, Qal JUSSIVE be glad ‒ BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense