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Commentary on Psalms 14 verses 4–7
In these verses the psalmist endeavours,
I. To convince sinners of the evil and danger of the way they are in, how secure soever they are in that way. Three things he shows them, which, it may be, they are not very willing to see - their wickedness, their folly, and their danger, while they are apt to believe themselves very wise, and good, and safe. See here,
1.Their wickedness. This is described in four instances: - (1.) They are themselves workers of iniquity; they design it, they practise it, and take as much pleasure in it as ever any man did in his business. (2.) They eat up God's people with as much greediness as they eat bread, such an innate and inveterate enmity they have to them, and so heartily do they desire their ruin, because they really hate God, whose people they are. It is meat and drink to persecutors to be doing mischief; it is as agreeable to them as their necessary food. They eat up God's people easily, daily, securely, without either check of conscience when they do it or remorse of conscience when they have done it; as Joseph's brethren cast him into a pit and then sat down to eat bread, Gen 37:24, Gen 37:25. See Mic 3:2, Mic 3:3. (3.) They call not upon the Lord. Note, Those that care not for God's people, for God's poor, care not for God himself, but live in contempt of him. The reason why people run into all manner of wickedness, even the worst, is because they do not call upon God for his grace. What good can be expected from those that live without prayer? (4.) They shame the counsel of the poor, and upbraid them with making God their refuge, as David's enemies upbraided him, Psa 11:1. Note, Those are very wicked indeed, and have a great deal to answer for, who not only shake off religion, and live without it themselves, but say and do what they can to put others out of conceit with it that are well-inclined-with the duties of it, as if they were mean, melancholy, and unprofitable, and with the privileges of it, as if they were insufficient to make a man safe and happy. Those that banter religion and religious people will find, to their cost, it is ill jesting with edged-tools and dangerous persecuting those that make God their refuge. Be you not mockers, lest your bands be made strong. He shows them,
2.Their folly: They have no knowledge; this is obvious, for if they had any knowledge of God, if they did rightly understand themselves, and would but consider things as men, they would not be so abusive and barbarous as they are to the people of God.
3.Their danger (Psa 14:5): There were they in great fear. There, where they ate up God's people, their own consciences condemned what they did, and filled them with secret terrors; they sweetly sucked the blood of the saints, but in their bowels it is turned, and become the gall of asps. Many instances there have been of proud and cruel persecutors who have been made like Pashur, Magormissabibs - terrors to themselves and all about them. Those that will not fear God perhaps may be made to fear at the shaking of a leaf.
II. He endeavours to comfort the people of God, 1. With what they have. They have God's presence (Psa 14:5): He is in the generation of the righteous. They have his protection (Psa 14:6): The Lord is their refuge. This is as much their security as it is the terror of their enemies, who may jeer them for their confidence in God, but cannot jeer them out of it. In the judgment-day it will add to the terror and confusion of sinners to see God own the generation of the righteous, which they have hated and bantered. 2. With what they hope for; and that is the salvation of Israel, Psa 14:7. When David was driven out by Absalom and his rebellious accomplices, he comforted himself with an assurance that god would in due time turn again his captivity, to the joy of all his good subjects. But surely this pleasing prospect looks further. He had, in the beginning of the psalm, lamented the general corruption of mankind; and, in the melancholy view of that, wishes for the salvation which should be wrought out by the Redeemer, who was expected co come to Zion, to turn away ungodliness from Jacob, Rom 11:26. The world is bad; O that the Messiah would come and change its character! There is a universal corruption; O for the times of reformation! Those will be as joyful times as these are melancholy ones. Then shall God turn again the captivity of his people; for the Redeemer shall ascend on high, and lead captivity captive, and Jacob shall then rejoice. The triumphs of Zion's King will be the joys of Zion's children. The second coming of Christ, finally to extinguish the dominion of sin and Satan, will be the completing of this salvation, which is the hope, and will be the joy, of every Israelite indeed. With the assurance of that we should, in singing this, comfort ourselves and one another, with reference to the present sins of sinners and sufferings of saints.
Such people will never learn from experience what a harsh thing it is to do wrong to the Lord’s people, so bitter are they toward us as to wish to treat us like a meal of bread.… Since they are ready to swallow us raw, then, and do not have the Lord before their eyes, fear will overtake them from a quarter where they do not expect it.
"They have not called upon the Lord." For he does not really call upon Him, who longs for such things as are displeasing to Him. "There they trembled for fear, where no fear was" [Psalm 14:5]: that is, for the loss of things temporal. For they said, "If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe in Him; and the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation." [John 11:48] They feared to lose an earthly kingdom, where no fear was; and they lost the kingdom of heaven, which they ought to have feared. And this must be understood of all temporal goods, the loss of which when men fear, they come not to things eternal.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 14:5 dramatically reveals a sudden and overwhelming terror that grips the wicked, a fear directly precipitated by their inescapable realization of God's active, protective presence among "the generation of the righteous." This pivotal verse marks a profound reversal of fortunes, where the previously arrogant oppressors are suddenly paralyzed by dread, while the oppressed righteous find their ultimate security and vindication in the unwavering faithfulness of their divine Protector, highlighting God's imminent intervention and judgment.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 14:5 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its powerful message. Dramatic Irony is profoundly evident as the wicked, who boast of their autonomy and deny God's existence (Psalms 14:1), are suddenly overwhelmed by the very God they rejected, whose presence they now undeniably feel. This creates a powerful Contrast between the wicked's initial arrogance and their subsequent terror, as well as between their vulnerability and the unwavering security of the righteous. The verse also utilizes Foreshadowing, as the wicked's present fear hints at the ultimate judgment and reckoning they will inevitably face. The phrase "God is in the generation of the righteous" uses Metonymy, where "God is in" stands for God's active presence, protective power, and unwavering support on behalf of His covenant people.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 14:5 serves as a profound theological statement on God's active sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. It asserts that divine presence is not merely a comforting thought for the righteous but a terrifying reality for those who oppose God and oppress His followers. This verse underscores the biblical principle that God is a just judge who will ultimately intervene to protect His own and bring justice upon the wicked. It offers assurance that even when evil seems to prevail and the righteous appear vulnerable, God remains intimately involved, ensuring that the tables will turn. The fear of the wicked is a testament to God's unseen but undeniable work in the world, a precursor to the final vindication of His people and the certain judgment of their adversaries.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 14:5 offers both a powerful comfort and a solemn warning for all generations. For believers, it is a profound reminder that even when surrounded by godlessness, injustice, or overt opposition, our God is not distant or indifferent. He is actively, intimately present with "the generation of the righteous," providing an unseen but undeniable shield of protection. This truth should instill courage and peace, knowing that our ultimate security rests not in our circumstances or strength, but in the unwavering faithfulness of our divine Protector. In moments of doubt or despair, this verse calls us to remember that the very presence of God with His people is a terrifying reality for those who oppose Him, ensuring that their arrogance will eventually give way to dread. For those who disregard God or oppress others, this verse serves as a stark and inescapable warning: though they may seem to prosper for a time, their defiance will ultimately culminate in profound fear when they are confronted with the reality of God's active presence and impending judgment. It urges introspection and repentance, highlighting the futility and danger of living as if God does not exist or will not intervene.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who are "the generation of the righteous" mentioned in this verse?
Answer: "The generation of the righteous" refers to those who are in a right relationship with God, characterized by their faithfulness, integrity, and obedience to His commands. It's not about a specific lineage or age group, but a moral and spiritual community. In the Old Testament, this primarily referred to the covenant people of Israel who walked in God's ways. In a broader biblical sense, it encompasses all who trust in God and strive to live according to His will, contrasted with the "wicked" who deny or disregard Him. This concept is echoed in other psalms, like Psalms 24:6, which speaks of "the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob."
Why are the wicked suddenly gripped by "great fear" if they deny God's existence?
Answer: The "great fear" of the wicked is a sudden, overwhelming terror that arises from an undeniable, albeit perhaps subconscious, confrontation with the reality of God's presence and power. Even those who outwardly deny God's existence or mock Him can be inwardly convicted or confronted by His truth. This fear might be triggered by a specific event (e.g., a divine intervention, a reversal of circumstances, or a moral awakening) that forces them to acknowledge a power beyond themselves. It's a manifestation of their conscience, or a direct divine imposition, revealing the futility of their rebellion. This fear is a precursor to divine judgment, highlighting that God's reality cannot be perpetually ignored, as seen in the ultimate judgment described in Revelation 6:15-17.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 14:5 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the embodiment of perfect righteousness, the very "generation of the righteous" in whom God's presence dwells fully and without measure (Colossians 2:9). In His life, ministry, death, and resurrection, Jesus perfectly demonstrated God's unwavering presence with His people and His decisive victory over the forces of evil. The "great fear" of the wicked, foreshadowed in this psalm, is powerfully realized in the demonic realm's terror before Christ (Mark 1:24), and ultimately in the eschatological judgment where every knee will bow and every tongue confess His Lordship, to the terror of those who rejected Him (Philippians 2:10-11). Through Christ, the righteous are not merely a "generation" but a new creation, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, guaranteeing God's perpetual presence with them (John 14:16-17). His triumph over sin and death ensures that those who are "in Christ" are eternally secure, and the fear that once gripped the wicked now belongs to the defeated powers of darkness, while believers walk in the confidence of their Savior's victory (Romans 8:31-39).