The Fool Says in His Heart, ‘There Is No God’ (Psalm 14) | Matthew Henry

Deep Dive into Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume - Psalm 14Psalm 14, though its exact historical context remains uncertain, is primarily understood as a profound description of the universal depravity of human nature, a view supported by the Apostle Paul in Romans 3. It highlights the pervasive sinfulness inherent in mankind, revealing sin as both malignant and epidemic.At the heart of this corruption is "practical atheism," where individuals—characterized as "fools"—secretly whisper in their hearts, "There is no God." This isn't a firm intellectual judgment but a wish or imagination to deny God's dominion and providence. This internal denial serves to silence conscience and embolden them in evil. Such atheistical thoughts are deemed foolish and wicked, forming the foundation for much of the world's sin. This malignancy also manifests in the debasement of human nature, rendering individuals corrupt, filthy, and incapable of doing good, thus becoming odious to their Maker and producing "abominable works." God's own celestial observation confirms this epidemic, finding that all humanity has "gone aside," with "none that doeth good" without divine grace.This deep-seated corruption expresses itself through outward actions. Sinners are "workers of iniquity" who take pleasure in wrongdoing. They exhibit an intense, innate enmity towards God's people, persecuting them with greed and without remorse, because they hate God Himself. They neglect prayer, thereby displaying contempt for God, and mock the righteous for trusting in Him, attempting to dissuade others from faith. Despite appearing secure in their wickedness, these individuals are ultimately foolish and face "great fear," tormented by secret terrors from their own condemning consciences.Amidst this widespread depravity, God's people find comfort in His active presence and protection, as the Lord is their refuge. The psalm concludes with a hopeful anticipation for the "salvation of Israel," understood not only as a longing for immediate deliverance but, more profoundly, as a yearning for the coming of the Redeemer—the Messiah—to turn away ungodliness. This hope extends to the ultimate second coming of Christ, which will finally extinguish the dominion of sin and Satan, bringing about joyful times of reformation and completing salvation for all true believers.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730