Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

This psalm is repeated almost word for word in Psalm 53 but with one major difference. In this ver- sion the name of Yahweh is used 4 times and Elohim 3 times, and in the Psalm 53 version the name Elohim is used in all 7 references. Yahweh is the Old Testament name for God as the Redeemer of his people and is foreshadowing Jesus, the eternal Son of God. ‘Elohim’ is used most commonly in refer- ence to ‘Israel’s God,’ the ‘One True God,’ and is possibly in reference to the Father God. Even in the Old Testament songbook we faintly see the Father and the Son working in harmony to bring redemp- tion and blessing to the lost human race.

INTRODUCTION :

“ For the choir director: A Psalm of David.” (See psalm 11)

I THE FALLEN RACE - 1-3

“ Only fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God’.(Elohim) They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good. The Lord (Yahweh) looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God. (Elohim) But no, all have turned away from God; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not even one!”

‘ There is no God ’ is the beginning of the end for the human race. From this premise begins a fall into depravity that has no limits. The writer emphasizes that all of humanity is guilty of rebellion against God:

• …”the entire human race…”(2) • …”all have turned away…” (3) • …”all have become corrupt.” (3)

In the book of Romans we are told that all the children of Adam are infected with sin. “ When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race.”(Rom. 5:12) Although we are members of a fallen race, we bear individual responsibility for our transgressions. “ For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Rom. 3:23) • ‘ The fool says in his heart…’(1,NIV) • …” no one does good!” (1,3) • …” he looks to see if there is one with real understanding,”(2) • …” one who seeks for God.” (2) • …” not even one!” (3) Paul quotes verses 1-3 of Psalm 14 in his letter to the Romans to prove that both Jews, who have been given the law of God, and Gentiles, who rely on the law of their conscience are equally guilty of sin and need a savior: “ Well then, are we Jews better than others! No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is good- not even one…” (Rom. 3:9-10) Verse 2 reminds us of when God looked upon mankind in the days before the flood. In that instance he found one person, Noah, who understood that there was a God and sought him with his whole heart. “ Now the Lord observed the extent of the people’s wickedness, and he saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil … And the Lord said, ‘I will completely wipe out this human race that I have created…But Noah found favor with the Lord.”(Gen. 6:5-8) God is looking down at the human race one more time and those hidden in Christ will find salvation and ‘favor with the Lord.’

II THE FOOLISH MAN - 4-6

4) “ Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread; they wouldn’t think of praying to the Lord. (Yahweh)“ 5) “ Terror will grip them, for God (Elohim) is with those who obey him.” 6) “ The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord (Yahweh) will protect his people.”

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