Psalms 14 · The Lantern

The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God.

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

[Like the Assyrian army in the days of Hezekiah], all will come to know through experience the one fighting against them; fear will strike them from a source they did not expect. I mean, who would have thought they would be destroyed by an angel? That God cares for the Jews?

Above, the Psalmist reproached the deceitfulness of his enemies; here he sets forth their malice. The title is: "Unto the end, a Psalm of David." And concerning this he does two things. First he manifests their malice. Second he sets forth the hope of his liberation from them, at "Shall they not know," etc. And concerning the first he does two things.

They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings: there is none that doeth good, no not one.

When you hear the Lord looks down from heaven, think not of his divine and incorporeal nature that he has bowed and bent down, or has bent his knee or nodded his head, but realize his visitation, forgiveness and kindness. Although he is said to have a head, ears, eyes, mouth and hands, and to sit and to rise, yet he is not altogether constituted of members and parts.

"The Lord from heaven looked out upon the sons of men, to see if there be one understanding, or seeking after God" [Psalm 14:2].

"The Lord." Here, first, he certifies the fault. Second, he expounds it, at "Their throat." Sin is certified through iniquity; and therefore here he sets forth God's investigation, saying: you say that there is no God; but this is false, because "the Lord has looked down from heaven upon the children of men": Prov.

The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men: to see if there were any that would understand, and seek after God.

It was right to show openly the magnitude of the disease that lingered with sinister purpose for all people before the advent of the Savior: as it was manifested to all, his sojourn on earth became straightforwardly necessary. As all have sinned, all lacked the glory of God, and now they are all justified by his grace.

"All have gone out of the way, they have together become useless:" that is, the Jews have become as the Gentiles, who were spoken of above. "There is none that does good, no not up to one" [Psalm 14:3], must be interpreted as above.

What will he find when he has searched here? The contrary: because "all have turned aside"; and he sets forth three things: namely, a turning away from God, useless action, and cessation from good. He says, therefore, "All have turned aside," namely from God: Deut.

But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable: there is none that doeth good, no not one.

Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues have they deceived: the poison of asps is under their lips.

Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood.

These words that are now put forth can be understood in my opinion in light of the Jews trying to upset the plan of the Savior, because they thought that he was lacking power. They did not consider carefully the treasure of his divinity.

"For God is in the just generation." It refers to what went before, so that the sense is, "shall not all they that work iniquity know that the Lord is in the just generation;" that is, He is not in them who love the world.

And he shows this by a sign: because "you have confounded the counsel of the poor man," that is, you have considered it contemptible and have blasphemed it as far as you were able: and this is the counsel of the poor man, that he may know that the Lord is his hope: Ps. 21: "He hoped in the Lord; let him deliver him, let him save him, since he desires him" (Mt. 27).

Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.

Have they no knowledge, that they are all such workers of mischief: eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the Lord?

There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was: for God is in the generation of the righteous.

As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor: because he putteth his trust in the Lord.

Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion? When the Lord turneth the captivity of his people: then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalms14