Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 53

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 53 David saith: The fool says there is no God—There is none that doeth good—Gathered Israel shall rejoich.
To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschill, A Psalm of David.
1 THE ^afool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is ^bnone that doeth good. 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. 3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. 5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath ^ascattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath ^bdespised them. 6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God ^abringeth back the captivity of his people^a, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.	6^a When God bringeth back the captivity of his people Here again is a testimony of Jesus Christ and that it is he, God Jehovah, who 'gathers again' his people. Here years before the scattering of Israel does David provide testimony that this concept of scattering and gathering was known and understood by the Hebrews. And in fact this ought too be for the very name of the 'anointed' of Israel (Psalms 81:5) who was Joseph, whose name meant 'Jehovah Gathers Again' points to the covenant of Joseph and Joseph's seed, his singular seed Jesus Christ and their, the plural seed's, roll in the gospel plan.