Psalm 53: How Bad are We Anyway?

This psalm is an individual lament. It is almost word for word identical with Psalm 14, but it uses the name ‘elohim for God in several places where Psalm 14 uses the name Yahweh. There are also significant differences between Ps 53:5 and Ps 14:5–6. Teaching about the radical, pervasive, complete depravity of man was so important to the psalmist that he included it twice in the Psalms in almost the same words. Paul quotes this Psalm in Rom 3:10–12. Also see Gen 6:5; Prov 6:16–19; Eccl 7:20, 29, 9:3; Isa 53:6; Jer 13:23, 17:9; Zeph 3:7; Rom 3:9–18; Eph 2: 1–3; 1 Tim 5:6 for a sample of verses (there are over 80) that teach this truth. The “fool” in this Psalm is a wicked person who lives as if there is no God, but he is a make-believer and pretends to be religious (Willem VanGemeren). His IQ may be high, and he does not claim to be an atheist with his words to others, only to himself and by his lifestyle choices. He is suppressing the truth that God sees and records everything that men think, say, and do; and that each person will have to answer for these on the Day of Judgment.

RULE #8: Learn to identify some of the different types of figures of speech used in the Bible

I. Figures of speech that show comparison

   A. Metaphor (implied comparison - two unlike things) [I am the door; Yahweh is my shepherd]

   B. Simile (comparison using - words "like" / as") [My enemy is like a lion]

II. Figures of speech that show relationships or associations by substitution of one noun for 

    another

    A. Metonymy (an object named to represent another) [Their throat {speech} is an open grave]

    B. Synecdoche (part of a thing that represents the whole or the whole thing for a part

         {soul, flesh, their feet run to evil, feet=whole man, the rest of his body follows his feet}

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   I. The wicked live as if God did not exist (vs. 1)

       A. The wicked fool tells himself that God will not see or record his evil deeds

       B. He makes lifestyle choices as if the God of the Bible is not real or cannot see

       C. He does not deny God’s existence to other people with words

       D. He does deny the Holy God of the Bible’s existence by his actions

       E. In his inner man, he tells himself, there is no God, live for pleasure, selfishness, sin

       F. He is a wicked fool storing up wrath for himself on the Day of Judgment

 II. Heaven sees all men as they are: sinners, rebels, lawbreakers (vs. 2–3)

      A. God sees His creation, the Creator-King observes as witness and judge

      B. This is pictured in Gen 3:8–10, 6:5, 11:5, and 18:21 

      C. God verdict, there are no people, male or female that act wisely, understand biblical truth, or will             seek Him on their own

      D. God is the seeker in the Bible. The modern concept of “seeker” is not biblical. They are pleasure             seekers and entertainment seekers or lonely people seeking companionship

      E. Awakened sinners are the folks we want to attract so we can help them surrender to Christ. God             has to first resurrect them and give them the gift of faith (Eph 2:1–9)

      F. Everyone has turned toward sin, it's their natural inclination

      G. All people are born corrupt and continue in corruption until arrested by God

      H. There are no people who do good with the right motive and in the right way

       I. There is not even one exception of the sons of Adam. This is why the virgin birth is vital; Jesus                 had to be out of Adam line to be the sinless Son of God

       J. Mankind is spiritually dead, no spiritual life, the natural man cannot receive spiritual things, he                 is totally unable (Rom 8:7; 1 Cor 2:14)

       K. God must rescue the sinner and draw him to himself (John 6:44, 65)

III. God’s people lament the activity of the wicked (vs. 4–5)

     A. The wicked ignore the coming Day of Judgment

     B. The wicked do not individually know God in a close covenant relationship

     C. The wicked persecute the righteous remnant who do know God

     D. The wicked are never satisfied, they want more and more

     E. The wicked do not call on the LORD in repentance to save them from their sin, they love their sin

     F. Judgment is coming upon them, the covenantal curse of mental anguish (Lev 26:36–37)

     G. Judgment is coming, they will die in battle and not be buried (Lev 26:17, 30)

     H. The wicked are rejected by God and will be publicly shamed (Lev 26:28, 30)

IV. The hope of the righteous (vs. 6)

      A. Salvation of Israel will come out of Zion. He will ride in on a donkey, and leave the city carrying             a cross

      B. In the future God is going to bring the Jews back to their land

     C. King Jesus will reign in Jerusalem for 1000 years

     D. The salvation of the sinner and of the nation of Israel is something to shout about 

Lessons to Live by:

·        It is foolish to live as if God does not see our sin

·        God records everything, He is the Creator, Sovereign, King

·        Mankind (all humans), since the fall are in bad, bad shape

·        The fall corrupted the will, emotions, reasoning, choosing, thinking, physical bodies, no part of man escaped the fall

·        The wicked who mistreat the poor, Jews, or Christians are going to get it—Some on the earth, all at the Judgment (what you sow, you will reap)

·        God is our refuge, our protector, and He will bring justice to the wicked fools who ignore His Word, His law, His righteous standards, His coming Day of Judgment

·        Nothing is worse than being rejected by God! Repent while there is time!