Message Notes

SSS 4 23 October 2022
Book 2
Psalms 42-72

Text: Psalm 53

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath.” A Contemplation of David.
1 The fool has said in his heart
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

3 Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon God?

5 There they are in great fear
Where no fear was,
For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;
You have put them to shame,
Because God has despised them.

6 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Psalm 53:1-5

COMPARISON: PSALM 14

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call on the LORD?

5 There they are in great fear,
For God is with the generation of the righteous.

6 You shame the counsel of the poor,
But the LORD is his refuge.

7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

Psalm 14:1-7

SIMILARITIES

1. Authorship of both Psalms
David

2. The problem of the sinful state of man

a) Denial of God Psalm 53:1; Psalm 14:1

b) Corruption Psalm 53:1; Psalm 14:1

c) Abominable iniquity/ works Psalm 53:1; Psalm 14:1

3. God/ The LORD

a) He looks from heaven Psalm 53:2; Psalm 14:2

b) To see if anyone seeks God Psalm 53:2; Psalm 14:2

4. Results of the search

a) All turned aside Psalm 53:3; Psalm 14:3

b) All corrupt Psalm 53:3; Psalm 14:4

c) All do bad things Psalm 53:3; Psalm 14:3

5. Rhetorical questions

a) No knowledge of God? Psalm 53:4; Psalm 14:4

b) Eating people up? Psalm 53:4; Psalm 14:4

c) No calling on God Psalm 53:4; Psalm 14:4

6. Consequences of doing evil

a) Great fear felt Psalm 53:5; Psalm 14:5

b) Where there is no fear Psalm 53:5; Psalm 14:5

7. Heartfelt longing (Prayer)

a) Salvation to come from Zion Psalm 53:6; Psalm 14:7

b) God bringing back the captivity
Of His people Psalm 53:6; Psalm 14:7

c) Gladness of God’s people
(Jacob/ Israel) Psalm 53:6; Psalm 14:7

8. Where is God amidst so much evil in the world?

a) God will scatter the enemies Psalm 53:6

b) He has put the wicked to shame Psalm 53:6b

c) He Has despised them Psalm 53:6c

d) God is with the righteous Psalm 14:5

e) He is their refuge Psalm 14:6