2<\/strong>. For a while God as it were overlooked the growing corruption. At length He ‘looked down’ (Psa 33:13-14<\/span>). So in the yet simpler language of the Pentateuch He is said to have ‘come down to see’ the wickedness of Babel and Sodom (Gen 11:5<\/span>; Gen 18:21<\/span>; and note the use of ‘look down’ in the latter narrative though in a different connexion, Psa 18:16<\/span>). Were not these typical examples of human corruption in the Psalmist’s mind? God (in Psa 14:2<\/span> Jehovah) looked down to see if there were any that did understand (or deal wisely<\/em>, R.V. marg., for the verb often includes the idea of right action), that did seek after God. Cp. Psa 9:10<\/span>. The use of God<\/em>, not Jehovah<\/em>, in Psalms 14<\/span> as well as here, is significant. It is of mankind in general, not of Israel, that the Psalmist is speaking. God made Himself known through the voice of conscience and in the works of creation, but men would not follow the light of conscience or read the book of nature. See Act 14:17<\/span>; Act 17:27<\/span>; and especially Rom 1:19<\/span> ff.<\/p>\n God looked down from heaven … – <\/B>See the notes at Psa 14:2<\/span>. The only change which occurs in this verse is the substitution of the word <\/span> ‘Elohiym<\/I>, rendered God, for Yahweh, rendered Lord, in Psa 14:2<\/span>. The same change occurs also in Psa 14:4<\/span>, Psa 14:6<\/span>. It is to be observed, also, that the word Yahweh does not occur in this psalm, but that the term used is uniformly. <\/span> ‘Elohiym<\/I>, God. In Psa 14:1-7<\/span> both terms are found – the word <\/span> ‘Elohiym<\/I> three times Psa 14:1-2<\/span>, Psa 14:5<\/span>, and the word <\/span> Yahweh<\/I> four times, Psa 14:2<\/span>, Psa 14:4<\/span>,Psa 14:6-7<\/span>. It is impossible to account for this change. There is nothing in it, however, to indicate anything in regard to the authorship of the psalm or to the time when it was written, for both these words are frequently used by David elsewhere.<\/P> <\/p>\n Psa 53:2-3<\/span><\/p>\n God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Universal corruption of mankind<\/strong><\/p>\n This <\/em>is a description of human nature at all times (Rom 3:10-12<\/span>).<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Our choosing the best good for our portion. Gods service is its own reward.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Repentance for sin.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>The sacrifice of every earthly good for His sake, and accounting His favour to be better than life.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>Resting all our hopes of salvation upon the promises of His Word. There is no other door of hope, no other way of acceptance, but what is provided in the promises of the Gospel.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>The loss of the Divine favour is the greatest of all evils, and yet no one lays it to heart, or is careful to seek after it. To be contented in such a state, and indifferent about the favour of God, is truly dreadful: yet such is the case with all men by nature.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>God visits men with such afflictions, and brings them into such circumstances, as are directly adapted to make them feel their need of Him: and yet God is not in all their thoughts (Job 33:15<\/span>).<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>By nature we have no love to God, and therefore do not seek Him.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>Men are full of pride and self-sufficiency, and hence they do not seek after God (Psa 10:4<\/span>). Religion is too mean for their notice, and fit only for the attention of the vulgar. Many say in their hearts with Pharaoh, Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Though every one of them is gone back, and they are altogether become filthy, yet some are distinguished by grace, and there is a generation of them that seek Thy face, O God of Jacob (Psa 24:6<\/span>). His eye is upon all such, and He will be found of them in truth; they shall never seek His face in vain (Isa 45:9<\/span>).<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>The Lord also notices those who do not seek Him, and His eye is upon all their ways. Awful thought, to be under His inspection while utterly regardless of His presence, and sinning against heaven and before Him. (Theological Sketch-book.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n God inspecting man<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Because of the dignity of mans nature (Gen 1:27<\/span>).<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Because of the peculiarity of mans moral condition. By disobedience man entered into the dread knowledge of evil. Unfallen angels are entirely holy. Fallen angels are utterly depraved. In human nature the battle between good and evil is being waged.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Because of the capabilities of mans being. Man is capable of rising to the highest, or sinking to the lowest, position in the universe of God.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>An all-seeing Being (Psa 139:11-16<\/span>; Eze 11:5<\/span>; Heb 4:13<\/span>).<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>An infinitely holy Being. His dwelling, His ways, His works, His essential nature are all holy (Isa 57:15<\/span>; Hab 1:12-13<\/span>; 1Jn 1:5<\/span>; Rev 4:8<\/span>).<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>An infinitely merciful Being. If there be in us any sincere efforts after truth and righteousness, He sees and approves them.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Moral intelligence. Understand, or act prudently–the antithesis of the fool in Psa 53:1<\/span>. Not intellectual attainment, but practical wisdom.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>Divine aspiration. Where there is any true wisdom, or any spiritual life, it will manifest itself in seeking fellowship and union with God. Only through the mediation of Jesus Christ can this union be obtained. Conclusion.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>He who now <\/strong>scrutinizes will one day judge man.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>His judgment of man is infallible. He deliberately, patiently, and thoroughly examines into every case before pronouncing judgment.<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>He is also the merciful Saviour of men.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>Our supreme interest is to seek to know Him as our Saviour. (W. Jones.<\/em>)<\/p>\n God looked down from heaven upon the children of men<\/strong>,…. In<\/p>\n Ps 14:2<\/span>, it is read, “the Lord” or “Jehovah”; in everything else there is an agreement in this verse; [See comments on Ps 14:2]<\/span>;<\/p>\n to see if there were [any] that did understand<\/strong>; the Targum is, “that were understanding” in the law; it doubtless means understanding in divine and spiritual things;<\/p>\n that did seek God<\/strong>; the above paraphrase is, “seeking doctrine from before the Lord”.<\/p>\n In both recensions of the Psalm the name of God occurs seven times. In Psa 14:1-7<\/span> it reads three times Elohim<\/em> and four times Jahve<\/em>; in the Psalm before us it is all seven times Elohim<\/em>, which in this instance is a proper name of equal dignity with the name Jahve<\/em>. Since the mingling of the two names in Psa 14:1-7<\/span> is perfectly intentional, inasmuch as Elohim<\/em> in Psa 53:1<\/span>, Psa 53:2<\/span><\/em> describes God as a Being most highly exalted and to be reverentially acknowledged, and in Psa 52:5<\/span> as the Being who is present among men in the righteous generation and who is mighty in their weakness, it becomes clear that David himself cannot be the author of this levelling change, which is carried out more rigidly than the Elohimic character of the Psalm really demands. <\/p>\n Psa 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did seek God.<\/p>\n Ver. 2. God looked down, &c.<\/strong> ] See Trapp on “<\/em> Psa 14:2 “<\/em> <\/p>\n looked: Psa 11:4, Psa 33:13, Psa 33:14, Psa 102:19, Jer 16:17, Jer 23:24 <\/p>\n any that: Psa 111:10, Deu 4:6, Job 28:28 <\/p>\n seek: Psa 10:4, Psa 27:8, 1Ch 28:9, 2Ch 15:2, 2Ch 19:3, Isa 55:6 <\/p>\n Reciprocal: Gen 6:5 – God Gen 6:12 – God Jer 5:1 – if there Jer 51:17 – Every Hos 7:10 – nor Rom 3:11 – none that understandeth<\/p>\n 53:2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did {c} seek God.<\/p>\n (c) By which he condemns all knowledge and understanding that tends not to seek God.<\/p>\n David pictured God looking down from His heavenly habitation and examining human beings individually. Wise people acknowledge God’s presence and pursue Him because He is the source of all goodness and blessing. Fools disregard Him and go their own way. God observed that everyone turns away from Him. The whole race has become sour like milk (Heb. ’alah<\/span>; cf. Psa 14:3; Job 10:10; Job 15:16). When people do not use milk for its intended purpose, namely, to drink, it turns sour. Likewise when people do not use their lives for their intended purpose, namely, to honor and glorify God, they spoil. No one is completely good. Every individual has fallen short of this standard of perfection (cf. Rom 3:10-12).<\/p>\n God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did seek God. 2. For a while God as it were overlooked the growing corruption. At length He ‘looked down’ (Psa 33:13-14). So in the yet simpler language of the Pentateuch He is said to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 53:2”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14733"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14733\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
I. <\/strong>Seeking the Lord is here supposed to be the criterion of a good understanding. It includes–<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>All men by nature are corrupt, and utterly destitute of this understanding.<\/p>\n
III. <\/strong>The lord keeps a strict eye upon the conduct of men towards Him.<\/p>\n
I. <\/strong>Gods profound interest in humanity. He bows Himself forward; and with zeal and concern examines mans moral state. Why is He so interested?<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>Gods searching scrutiny of humanity. His is the <\/strong>scrutiny of–<\/p>\n
III. <\/strong>The supreme concern of humanity. Why does God so earnestly examine man? To see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. We should seek–<\/p>\nFuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"