Psalm 14: Punishment and Protection

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” 
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; 
there is none who does good. 
2    The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, 
to see if there are any who understand, 
who seek after God. 
3    They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; 
there is none who does good, 
not even one.
4    Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers 
who eat up my people as they eat bread 
and do not call upon the Lord? 
5    There they are in great terror, 
for God is with the generation of the righteous. 
6    You would shame the plans of the poor, 
but the Lord is his refuge. 
7    Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! 
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, 
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. 
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign rule will bring justice, punishing the wicked and protecting the righteous. God’s grace provides righteousness as refuge and fuels worship for all who receive salvation in Christ alone through faith alone.
 
“The Lord looks down from Heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who… seek after God” (2). “None” illuminates the results of God’s search and frames the accusation- “none do good” (1, 3) because “all” have rejected God and “together have become corrupt” (2). 
 
The belief that there is no god births moral corruption. The fool says, “there is no god” (1) and works evil in the world (4) by consuming people, shaming the poor (6), and not calling on the Lord.
 
God’s sovereign rule promises to punish the wicked with terrifying judgement while securely protecting the righteous (5). Worship celebrates God’s presence with the generation of the righteous and God’s promise to restore the fortunes of all who trust in Him. Rejoicing and gladness birth from hearts whose hope is in the just judge of all the earth (5-7).
 
The New Testament explains how there can be a generation of righteous in a world where none seek God, all turn aside, and all are evildoers. Building on this Psalm, Paul highlights Christ’s righteous work as the biggest BUT in history (Romans 3). Through Jesus, all who believe are made righteous by faith and receive a right standing before God. With the Psalmist, believers in Christ celebrate salvation coming from heaven! And seek refuge in Jesus our righteousness. 
 
Richly Dwelling
-How does this Psalm highlight both God’s sovereign justice and fuel a hunger for God’s sovereign grace?
 
-Where do you need to be honest that you have not sought God and deserve God’s just punishment?
 
-What is the significance of Christ’s work that makes all who have faith in Him righteous before the Lord, the just judge of all the earth? How does this fuel worship from you heart and life?
 
Key Verse
5    There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.