How should we relate to the Psalms? What should we look for or receive from them? Jesus tells us plainly in Luke's Gospel: Jesus said to His disciples, These are the words which I spake to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:44-45. That which is written in the Psalms is concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Look for Christ in them. He is there in a mystery.
It was necessary for Jesus to enable the disciples to understand the Scriptures. The Apostle Paul was aware of how important it was to understand and speak the mystery of Christ that is in the Word. Pray for us, that God would open to us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Colossians 4:3-4. So when you are reading the Psalms or any of the other books of the Bible pray that you might understand the mystery of Christ. That is where the life is. If you only read the words for their natural meaning, you will miss the Word of God. The Bible is not a history book; it holds the mysteries of God and of His world of Spirit. It also holds a Word that God has for you. Get in there and find it.
Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." What is said in the heart involves what is spoken and unspoken. A person says much even when no words are spoken. The way he acts and the way he lives make bold statements. They are corrupt because they have corrupted themselves. When one is saying, "There is no God," he is corrupting himself. Out of that corruption flows abominable works and none will do good.
Psalm 14:2 The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
The "children of men" here is speaking of that which has been produced by those who are corrupt. The Lord looking down upon such corruption cannot find any that understand or seek after God. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Ephesians 4:18.
Psalm 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are altogether become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
The Apostle Paul speaks of a world without God in Romans 3:10-18. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.
Psalm 14:4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up My people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.
Until now you could relate the workers of iniquity to the corrupt ones that say, "There is no God." But now the Holy Spirit is speaking of those "who eat the people of God as they eat bread." I will read three passages of Scripture that will adequately explain who these "workers of iniquity" are. The first is from Ezekiel chapter 34, the second from Acts chapter 20, and the third from II Timothy chapter 3.
And the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord God to the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the Shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat, and you clothe yourself with wool, you kill them that are fed: but you feed not the flock. The diseased you have not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them. Ezekiel 34:1-4.
For I (Paul) have not shunned to declare to you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He has purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:27-30.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. II Timothy 3:1-5.
Who is it that "eats up the people of God as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord"? It is those in the pulpits who are building their own kingdoms and not the Lord's.
Psalm 14:5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
God is in the generation of the righteous. The righteous is His dwelling place. The Hebrew word for "generation" is dowr, which means generation, age, habitation, or dwelling. In the natural your generation is the span of your lifetime, but the generation of the righteous is eternal, because it is the span of the Lord's lifetime. The generation of the righteous is a people created by God. When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. Psalm 102:16-18.
Now hear what the Lord Jesus says about this generation in whom God dwells. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Matthew 24:34. The fulfilling of all things is directly related to the generation in which God dwells. God is in the generation of the righteous! And that generation is eternal.
Psalm 14:6 You have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is His refuge.
I think we are beginning to see that this psalm is speaking mystically of our dual nature - the old man and the new man. Put off concerning the former behavior the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24. The corrupt who say, "There is no God" is our old man, the flesh nature. The new man is the generation of the righteous where God dwells. The new man is also the "poor is spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). The old man of flesh derides and shames the new man that is not yet completely strengthened by His Lord, but the Lord is our refuge.
Psalm 14:7 O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
David returns to prayers and groanings too deep to be uttered (Romans 8:26). His prayers concern all of spiritual Israel. Though we have been captivated by our flesh, the Lord turns our captivity bringing us under His Lordship. Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad; that is, all of God's people will know deliverance, for salvation shall come out of Zion.
Copyright © 2012 by Henry DuBose