Corruption-- Psalm 53

For the leader, according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

Psalm 53 is exactly the same as Psalm 14—the only real repetition in the psalms. Perhaps this is an editorial oversight, or perhaps the editor wanted to make sure this psalm didn’t get missed.

The rebellious idiot said in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt
Committing abominable deeds
The person who is being spoken of is not just a “fool” as in the standard translations. He is someone who is rebellious, evil, attempting to do that which is destructive and selfish. At first sight, it seems that this fool is an atheist. But in fact, he is not denying the existence of God or gods, but the reality of judgment. This is his excuse for doing his evil deeds in order to accomplish what he wants corruptly. He tells himself, “God isn’t really going to judge me for this. He isn’t interested in my minor actions. Even if there is a god, he has no interest or power to act against me. I am free to do what I please.” Ultimately, this is a person who thinks there are no consequences for his actions.

There is none that does good.
God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there is anyone who sees
Who seeks after God.
Every one of them has turned aside
Together they have become corrupt
There is none that does good
Not even one.
The psalmist then changes his focus for a moment. Before he was focused on the few individuals who live according to the creed, “No evil will befall me no matter what I do”. Now, he looks at all humanity, and points out that none of us are free from this corrupt concept. Even those of us who want to do what is right and holy before God, we also are rebellious fools in some way. Every one of us see what God wants us to do and does something else. Every one of us closes our eyes to God’s perfection and live just in the moment. Every one of us is trapped by our own desires and faults, our minor corruptions and weaknesses. Paul calls this human nature “the flesh” and John clearly states “Anyone who says he has not sinned is a liar.” (Romans 7; I John 1:8). So the psalmist is saying that even though he is pointing out a particular fault in some folks, this fault exists in all of us, without exception.

Have those who work evil no knowledge
Who eat up my people as they eat bread
And do not call upon God?
There they were, in terror, where no terror was,
For God will scatter the bones of him who camped against You
They will be put to shame
For God has rejected them.
The psalmist now stares in disbelief at the actions of those so thoroughly corrupt that they attack God’s people, the poor, to steal from them, attack them and kill them. He is amazed because they have forgotten God so completely. Sure, he says, we are all forgetful at times, but most of us have a limit. But these people have no fear of God whatsoever—and this, he says, is their ultimate corruption. Now they will face the Great Terror—the judgment of God. God has rejected them and will destroy them completely. Not only will they be killed, but their bones will be scattered throughout the earth, their souls never at peace for the rest of eternity.

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people
Jacob will rejoice and be glad.
This paragraph is about God’s people, asking for deliverance. Zion is the place where God’s temple stands. The real shock of what the psalmist sees is not the thoroughly corrupt nature of some, but the attack of God’s people. How the helpless are attacked and those that trust in God. And for those who trust in God, they have only one Resource, one Security.
And so, in speaking of the corruption of some evil ones, as well as the corruption of all humanity, the psalmist was really just leading up to a prayer of rescue. “O God! Save those who trust in You alone! They have no defense against the corrupt—please be there for them.”
Interestingly enough, the psalmist doesn’t speak of confidence in God, as other psalms do. The psalm ends on a hope—a desperate hope, but just a hope—in God’s deliverance.

Evil abounds, but cling to hope in God