Psalm 53

Psalm 53 is almost word-for-word the same as Psalm 14.  If you are interested, our thoughts on Psalm 14 were recorded on this blog Nov. 30, 2014.  It included a discussion as to why David (assuming the titles are correct and that this is a contemplation of David) might refer to the captivity.  There is also a discussion as to why the Holy Spirit included two almost identical Songs and why we might need the reminder both of the sinfulness of man as well as God’s care for His people.

Briefly let us consider the fact that there is a difference between the two Psalms that should be encouraging for us.  To begin with, Psalm 14 speaks of “the LORD” while Psalm 53 uses “God” in the same 4 places.  Furthermore, in 14:5-6 God is for the righteous.  He is their refuge.  The emphasis is on what the LORD, the name that should encourage His people, is for His own.  In 53:5 God encamps against the workers of iniquity.  The emphasis is on what He is toward His enemies, and the reference to “God” is general and fits those nations that would oppress His people.

The fact is that God’s people live in a world dominated, as both Songs say, by those who deny God’s existence and have no desire to seek Him out.  At the same time the nations need to hear God’s word for them, which is that He is against them.  You may have noticed this kind of language throughout Scripture, but I am thinking especially of Ezekiel’s prophecy.  To the nations several times God made it clear that He was “against” them (Ezek. 28:22; 29:4,10).  Those words need to be said to and heard by the nations, by those who are at ease in sin, to those who as workers of iniquity seek to make life difficult for the people of God.  But Ezekiel, at a very timely place in his prophecy, also told the scattered and captive people of Israel, “I am for you” (Ezek. 36:9).  In helplessness we need to know God sees and knows and will work against the oppressors.  In our hopelessness we need to know the LORD is for us! 

What shall we then say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31)  Can we not say, at the same time, that if God is against us, who can be for us?  May we find ourselves on the right side of eternity, the right side of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!  At no time in history was God ever for us as He was when He made atonement for our sins through the blood of His only Son!