GLEANINGS IN THE PSALMS

(Psalm 53 and 54)

Psalm 53

The evil nature of man is here brought before our view a second time in almost the same inspired words (for this psalm is near enough identical with the fourteenth Psalm.) But, all repetitions are not vain repetitions. We are slow to learn, and need line upon line. David after a long life found men no better than they were in his youth. Holy Writ never repeats itself needlessly, there is good cause for the second copy of this Psalm; let us read it with more profound attention than before. If our years have advanced from fourteen to fifty-three, then we shall find the doctrine of this Psalm more evident than in our youth.

C. H. Spurgeon

God in this Psalm "speaketh twice," for this is the same almost verbatim with the fourteenth Psalm. The scope of it is to convince us of our sins, and to set us a-blushing, and to set us a-trembling because of them. God, by the Psalmist, here shows:

1. The fact of sin. God is witness to it. He looks down from heaven, in verse 3, and sees all the sinfulness of men's hearts and lives. All this is open and naked before Him.

2. The fault of sin. It is "iniquity" in verses 1 and 4; it is that which there is "no good" in verses 1 and 3; it is "going back" from God in verse 3.

3. The fountain of sin. How does it come about that men are so bad? Surely, it is because there is no fear of God before their eyes; for, they say in their hearts, in verse 1, "There is no God." No God at all to call us into account; none that we need to stand in awe of.

4. The folly of sin. He is "a fool" (in the judgment of God, whose judgment we are sure is right) who harbours such corrupt thoughts. They may truly be said to know nothing, in verse 4, who know not God.

5. The filthiness of sin. Sinners are "corrupt" according to verse 1; their iniquity is abominable, it says there; it is odious to an Holy God, and renders them so, as well.

6. The fruit of sin. See to what degree of barbarity it brings men at last! See their cruelty to their brethren! They "eat them up as they eat bread," verse 4.

7. The fear that attends sin. Verse 5: "Their they were in great fear" who made God their enemy. Their own guilty consciences filled them with horror and frightened them.

Matthew Henry

Psalm 54

Verses 2 and 3. "Hear my prayer, O God… oppressors seek after my soul." Sandy Peden was a Covenanter of great common-sense as well as great prophetic foresight and on one occasion, being pursued by a company of dragoons, he paused on the hills with his little company and said to them, "Let us pray here, for if the Lord hear not our prayer, and save us, we are all dead men." He then lifted up a prayer to suit the hour. "O Lord," he said, "this is the hour and power of Thine enemies, they may not be idle, but hast Thou no other work for them than to send them after us? Send them after them, O Lord, to whom Thou wilt gi'e strength to flee, for our strength is gone. Twine them about the hill, O Lord, and cast the lap of Thy cloak over poor auld Sandy and these poor things with him; save us this time, and we will keep it in remembrance, and tell it to the commendation of Thy guidness, Thy pity and compassion, what Thou didst for us at such a time." Soon a mist clouded the hills and their pursuers were withdrawn to go in search of James Renwick and the great company that was with him.

Verse 4. "Behold, God is mine helper…" Enemies swarmed all about him on every side, but "greater is He that is in him" than all the hosts of this world. Few enemies or many are little to him that has the Lord on his side or rather, who knows that he is on the side of the Lord. When Joshua enquired of "the man who stood over against him with his sword drawn" just prior to the battle for Jericho, "Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?" The answer that he received was a very telling one. "Nay; but as Captain of the Host of the Lord I am come." We should first of all enquire whether or not we are on Christ's side, rather than whether or not He is on our side.

Verse 6. "I will freely sacrifice unto thee…" By this he does not mean that rendering sacrifices to God was an option of those who would worship God; but now, with cheerfulness, he would praise and worship the Lord for His deliverance.

John Calvin