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

Transcript

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

0:00
Welcome everyone to Reform Thinking.
0:01
This is the place where we really aim to approach Scripture
0:04
with, well, the conviction that God is sovereign over
0:08
everything. His Word is our ultimate
0:10
authority and grace alone is our hope.
0:14
Here we take a deep dive into biblical truth and importantly,
0:18
it's application for our lives today.
0:20
We try to cut through some of the noise, get straight to the
0:21
point, and help you understand the Scriptures in a way that
0:24
hopefully truly sticks. Yeah, that's the goal.
0:28
So today we're tackling Psalm 14, and our main source for this
0:31
analysis is the really detailed commentary from Matthew Henry.
0:35
It's just just a helpful resource for illuminating these
0:38
ancient verses. And yeah, we're ready to unpack
0:41
its wisdom for you. That's absolutely right.
0:43
Our task today really is to pull out the key insights from this
0:46
Psalm about human nature, about sin, and crucially, the divine
0:50
hope it offers us, right? We want to give you a clear path
0:53
to grasp what this ancient text means for us, you know, in our
0:56
modern lives. And Matthew Henry, with his
0:59
careful attention to the text and theological precision, he
1:02
gives us a really excellent framework to examine these
1:04
verses. OK, so let's open up Psalm 14.
1:08
Now, when we come to a biblical text, it's pretty natural to
1:11
wonder about the history behind it, right?
1:13
Like what exactly prompted the writing?
1:15
The context. Exactly the context we often
1:18
look that specific occasion to, you know, fully get the meaning.
1:22
But with Psalm 14, Matthew Henry makes a, well, a pretty striking
1:27
observation right away. He notes that the exact occasion
1:31
for his writing is quote not clearly known.
1:36
The commentary says quite plainly, it does not appear upon
1:39
what occasion this song was penned, nor whether upon any
1:42
particular occasion. It almost feels like, I don't
1:45
know, A deliberate holding back of context leaves us with a bit
1:49
of mystery, doesn't. It it does, and it's quite
1:51
telling, I think. While there have definitely been
1:53
some historical guesses, you know, some scholars have
1:55
suggested David might have written this during Saul's
1:57
persecution, which was intense, or maybe later during Absalom's
2:01
rebellion, that heartbreaking time.
2:03
But Matthew Henry doesn't really go out on those.
2:05
His commentary is pretty decisive in setting those
2:08
specific historical links aside. He calls them mere conjectures,
2:12
which have not certainty enough to warrant us to expound the
2:15
Psalm by them. So just guesswork basically.
2:18
Pretty much. And it's not just a casual
2:20
dismissal. It feels like a deliberate
2:22
choice by Henry to guide our focus away from maybe
2:26
speculative historical settings. OK, the message seems to be that
2:30
while yes, specific, maybe deeply personal struggle might
2:34
have sparked it for David, the Psalm scope just quickly grows
2:37
beyond that. It kind of frees us up to look
2:39
past David's personal situation and really consider the broader,
2:43
more universal truths about human nature and sin that the
2:47
Psalm lays out. So instead of being locked into
2:49
one moment in Israelite history, we're invited into this much
2:52
wider theological conversation. That ambiguity isn't a roadblock
2:56
then, but maybe an invitation to see the message is bigger,
2:59
something that speaks across time and cultures.
3:01
I think that's exactly it. And this universal scope you
3:04
mentioned is really hammered home when we look at how the
3:06
apostle Paul handles Psalm 14. He kind of gives us the main
3:09
interpretive lens, right? Yeah, what Paul does is really
3:13
compelling. In his letter to the Romans,
3:15
specifically Romans 3 verse 10 and the following verses, he
3:18
quotes parts of the Psalm, but not just randomly.
3:21
It's a crucial piece of a much bigger argument he's building.
3:25
OK, what's the argument? Paul is systematically making
3:28
his case for universal human sinfulness.
3:31
He's aiming to show that quote, Jews and Gentiles are all under
3:34
sin, like Romans 3.9 says OK for one everyone.
3:38
And then he broadens it even more, stating that all the world
3:41
is guilty before God in Romans 3.99.
3:44
So Paul doesn't limit Psalm 14 to just David's enemies or some
3:48
specific conflict back then. No, he elevates it.
3:51
He presents it as a comprehensive description of the
3:54
depravity of human nature, the sinfulness of the sin we are
3:58
conceived and born in, and the deplorable corruption of a great
4:01
part of mankind. Wow, so it's not just for
4:03
David's enemies back then? Not at all.
4:05
It's the sweeping indictment that applies to all of humanity.
4:08
It reveals a condition that affects every single one of us.
4:11
So the psalmist's words reach way beyond ancient Israel.
4:14
They become sound like a mirror for every person.
4:16
That's a vital connection. So OK, David definitely had
4:21
enemies. He suffered in a persecution.
4:23
But the Psalm takes their actions and connects them to the
4:26
general corruption of nature. Exactly.
4:29
So David's insight wasn't just about the specific evil he
4:32
faced, but it widened into this realization that not his enemies
4:35
only, but all the children of men were thus corrupted.
4:39
It's recognizing this pervasive, deep problem in the human
4:44
condition itself, not just some isolated bad behavior.
4:48
It makes you pause, doesn't it? And think about how the evil we
4:51
see around us, and maybe even in ourselves, often comes from this
4:54
deeper shared root. Yeah, absolutely.
4:56
And this broad universal application then leads us to
4:59
ask, OK, how does Matthew Henry structure our understanding of
5:02
this message? He gives us a clear road map,
5:04
actually a way to navigate this kind of bleak assessment of
5:08
humanity, but also see the path towards hope.
5:10
OK, good. We need that.
5:11
He outlines the Psalms flow. He sees it starting with with
5:15
what he calls a charge exhibited against a wicked world.
5:17
That's verse one. Then it moves into the proof of
5:20
the charge covering verses 2 and three.
5:23
That's the evidence for the accusation.
5:25
After that, the psalmist launches into a serious
5:28
expostulation with sinners, especially with persecutors upon
5:32
it. That's verses 4 through 6.
5:34
This is where you know the consequences and the specific
5:36
ways sin shows up are really laid bare.
5:39
OK. And finally, the song wraps up
5:42
with this really striking shift, a believing prayer for the
5:46
salvation of Israel and a joyful expectation of it in verse 7.
5:50
This structure isn't just random, it's a carefully crafted
5:53
theological progression. That structure sounds like it's
5:56
going to be our map for this deep dive in.
5:58
It really sets the stage nicely. It moves us logically from,
6:02
well, the psalmist grasp of humanity's deep failings right
6:05
into the hope that's found only in God's action.
6:08
It lays bare the wound first, shows its depth before pointing
6:12
us clearly to the doctor and the cure.
6:14
It acknowledges the heavy reality of sin, but then points
6:17
our gaze toward God's sovereign intervention.
6:20
OK, so we've established the universal reach of Psalm 14.
6:24
Now let's turn to the the core of the problem.
6:27
It identifies the malignant nature of sin.
6:30
Matthew Henry starts exploring this by pinpointing its ultimate
6:33
route. He says pretty forcefully that
6:37
there's something of practical atheism at the bottom of all
6:40
sin. That's a really strong claim,
6:42
isn't? It it is strong, yeah.
6:44
Challenges any surface level idea of where sin comes from.
6:47
It really does, and it's a crucial distinction.
6:49
He makes the phrase the fool hath said in his heart, there is
6:52
no God in verse one. That's the key, right?
6:55
Matthew Henry carefully clarifies.
6:56
This isn't necessarily like an intellectual denial of God's
6:59
existence in a philosophical way, like someone is arguing a
7:02
point. It's actually a much more
7:04
sinister internal posture. It's questioning his dominion
7:08
and Providence, his role as the judge or governor of the world.
7:12
So not denying God exists, but denying his authority.
7:14
Exactly, The person might intellectually say, yeah, God
7:17
exists, but their practical living, their choices, their
7:20
day-to-day attitude effectively denies his rightful place as
7:25
sovereign ruler and moral authority.
7:27
I see. It's a rebellion of the will,
7:29
really, more than a doubt of the mind living as if God just has
7:32
no say in their affairs. He describes this practical
7:35
atheism as an imagination, or even more pointedly, A wish.
7:39
A wish? Yeah.
7:40
It's like a secret desire, a barely audible whisper deep in
7:43
the heart where someone wishes there were none.
7:45
No, God, and you know, pleases Himself with the fancy that it
7:49
is possible there may be none. Wow, so actively pushing down
7:52
the truth. Kind of think of it like this.
7:55
The ultimate purpose of this internal practical atheism is
7:58
twofold. First, it aims to silence the
8:01
clamors of his conscience. You know, the part that would
8:03
convict them of doing wrong. Right, that nagging feeling.
8:06
Exactly, and 2nd, it serves as a mechanism for the emboldening of
8:11
himself in his evil ways. It's like a self deception
8:14
strategy to avoid accountability and just give free reign to
8:17
sinful desires. Makes sense if you silence the
8:21
conscience. Right.
8:22
The conscience, if it's not quieted, would be this constant
8:25
unwelcome interruption. And wishing there's no God is
8:29
like this desperate attempt to feel free from any moral
8:32
restraint. And the person who thinks like
8:34
this, who lives out this practical atheism, the Psalm
8:38
immediately calls them a fool. The commentary doesn't pull any
8:42
punches. It says this person isn't just
8:44
simple and unwise in their understanding, but also wicked
8:49
and profane in their character and actions.
8:51
It's a total. Indictment.
8:52
Yeah. Comprehensive.
8:53
The source makes it clear atheistical thoughts are very
8:56
foolish, wicked thoughts, and they're at the bottom of a great
8:58
deal of the wickedness that is in this world.
9:00
It's saying this isn't some small intellectual error, it's
9:03
the corrupt foundation for so much evil.
9:06
Right. It makes me think how many
9:07
actions that maybe you seem disconnected from God are
9:10
actually rooted in this deeper heart level denial of His active
9:14
rule. Absolutely.
9:16
And Matthew Henry points out that this kind of thinking goes
9:19
against the clearest light, against his own knowledge and
9:21
convictions, and the common sentiments of all the wise and
9:25
sober part of mankind. So it's not ignorance, it's
9:28
suppression. Exactly.
9:30
The person doing this isn't operating out of genuine
9:33
ignorance, but actively pushing down what they deep down know is
9:38
true. The commentary suggests
9:40
something quite sobering, almost chilling about the fallen human
9:43
heart. He says no man will say there is
9:46
no God till he is so hardened in sin that it has become his
9:49
interest that there should be none to call him to an account.
9:53
That's Stark. It is.
9:55
It implies that the ultimate denial of God isn't usually an
9:58
intellectual journey someone just arrives at through reason.
10:01
Instead, it's often a moral compromise, a self-serving
10:04
blindness they adopt because the truth of God's existence and
10:07
sovereignty becomes this uncomfortable obstacle to their
10:10
own unchecked wickedness and desires.
10:12
So the heart shapes the mind in that case.
10:14
It seems so, yeah, rather than the other way around.
10:17
OK, so sin starts with this deep practical rejection of God, this
10:22
internal dismissal of his authority.
10:25
But it's not just an offense against God.
10:27
It has devastating effects on us, on humanity itself.
10:31
Henry moves from sins affront to the Creator to its effect on the
10:35
created, the disgrace and debasement it puts upon the
10:38
nature of man. So sin doesn't just break our
10:41
relationship with God, it actively corrupts who we were
10:43
made to be. That's right, and what's really
10:46
striking is the stark contrast Henry draws between humanity's
10:49
original state and our condition under sins influence.
10:53
He describes sinners as having become corrupt, quite
10:56
degenerated from what man was in his innocent estate.
10:59
Degenerated strong word. It is.
11:01
This isn't just a small slip up. It's a complete turning away
11:04
from humanity's created purpose. And good.
11:07
He uses vivid, almost visceral language, saying they turn
11:09
filthy and putrid. Yeah, that imagery doesn't just
11:12
paint a picture of moral decay, but of a complete repulsive rot,
11:17
a spiritual and ethical stench. Really.
11:19
All human faculties, intellect will affections become
11:22
disordered, twisted, misaligned from their proper function.
11:25
This total corruption makes them odious to their maker.
11:29
A strong term showing God's righteous displeasure and
11:32
aversion, and furthermore, it renders them utterly incapable
11:36
of answering the ends of their creation.
11:38
Meaning they can't fulfill their purpose.
11:40
Exactly. They can't fulfill the purpose
11:42
they were made for, to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
11:46
It's a complete inversion of what God originally intended for
11:49
us, a tragic ruin of his handiwork.
11:52
And what are the practical results of this deep corruption?
11:55
Henry makes it plain. He says sinners do no good.
11:58
They become unprofitable burdens of the earth, just existing
12:01
without fulfilling their purpose, bringing no honor to
12:04
God and in the end doing themselves no real kindness.
12:07
Yeah, it's a picture of complete brokenness and futility, isn't
12:10
it? Not just failing to be what God
12:12
designed, but actively harming the world and themselves.
12:16
This no good isn't just lacking positive action, it's like a
12:19
wasted existence in God's creation.
12:21
Indeed, and it's not just a passive failure to do no good.
12:25
The commentary is clear that also do a great deal of hurt.
12:28
Right. They're not just useless,
12:29
they're destructive. Exactly.
12:31
They perform abominable works, actions that are hateful to God
12:35
by their very nature, and these works often end up becoming
12:38
hateful to the Sinner themselves, leading to guilt,
12:41
shame, self destruction. Like a cycle.
12:43
It is, and Henry draws this direct, powerful link to those
12:47
described in Titus 1.16 who profess they know God but in
12:51
works deny him. The disconnect between words
12:54
and. Actions precisely.
12:55
Their outward claim of knowing God is totally contradicted by
12:58
their inward corruption, which shows up in deeds that are the
13:01
opposite of God's character. Their actions betray their
13:04
words, confirming that deep internal corruption Henry called
13:07
practical atheism. It creates this tragic self
13:11
feeding cycle of rebellion and self destruction.
13:13
Denying God in the heart leads to tangible destructive behavior
13:17
in the world. With such a clear and frankly
13:20
forceful picture of sins malignant nature, this internal
13:23
rot Henry describes, it becomes painfully clear that sin is far
13:26
from being an isolated issue. It's depicted not as just an
13:30
occasional mistake, but is an epidemic disease that has
13:35
infected the whole race of mankind.
13:37
This isn't about a few bad apples.
13:39
It's presented as a pervasive condition, striking at the core
13:43
of who we are as humans. Yeah, that universality is key.
13:46
It suggests this isn't a problem we can just, you know, legislate
13:49
away or educate ourselves out of.
13:51
It's something deeper, systemic. And to really drive this home,
13:55
Matthew Henry brings God Himself into the picture, not as some
14:00
distant observer, but as an eyewitness.
14:03
An eyewitness? How so?
14:04
God is depicted as looking down from heaven, not just a casual
14:07
glance but with an all seeing eye, specifically to take a view
14:10
of all the children of men. OK, so a divine inspection.
14:13
Exactly. It's not passive observation,
14:15
it's a divine inquiry, A comprehensive survey of
14:18
humanity. Imagine the Creator with perfect
14:21
knowledge, actively scanning his creation, looking for something
14:24
specific. It really highlights the active
14:27
relational aspect of God's interaction with his fallen
14:30
world, a constant assessment of its moral state.
14:34
This scene painted by the psalmist and explained by Henry,
14:37
it's one of solemn divine scrutiny, a kind of celestial
14:40
audit of the human heart. And what is God looking for in
14:44
this inquiry? It's remarkably specific and
14:47
kind of poignant. God is searching whether there
14:50
were any among them that did understand themselves or write
14:53
their duty and interests, and did seek God and set him before
14:56
them. So looking for anyone with true
14:59
spiritual understanding and devotion.
15:01
Precisely anyone engaging with him and his standards rightly.
15:04
And Henry emphasizes the seriousness of this search, even
15:08
suggesting God would be glad to find out.
15:09
One good person, this one. Yeah.
15:12
It echoes examples like Noah in the Old world, right?
15:14
That solitary future of righteousness emits widespread
15:17
corruption before the flood. True, this desire to find even 1
15:20
righteous person, knowing how pervasive sin is.
15:23
It highlights both God's justice and seeing the sin and his
15:26
gracious desire for goodness. It really underscores the
15:29
gravity of the situation if even God's eager search comes up
15:32
empty. So what is the outcome of this
15:35
divine search? This all seeing observation.
15:38
Well, Matthew Henry, drawing straight from the Psalm, reveals
15:41
the result, and it's sobering. He states unequivocally they
15:45
have all gone aside. The apostasy is universal.
15:48
There is none that do with good. No, not one.
15:50
Wow. No, not one.
15:52
It's a complete sweep, no exceptions when it comes to
15:55
humanity's natural unregenerate state.
15:58
There's no pocket of innocence, no group untouched by this
16:02
infection. This universality is a critical
16:05
point and honestly sometimes a hard one for us to really
16:08
accept, especially in a world that often wants to celebrate
16:11
human potential. It really of modern thinking.
16:13
Sometimes it does and. This conclusion clarifies what
16:16
going aside really means. Humanity has gone aside from the
16:20
right of their duty, the way that leads to happiness, and
16:22
have turned into the paths of the Destroyer.
16:25
So it's not just. A minor detour?
16:26
Not at all. It's.
16:27
A wholesale turning away, a deliberate apostasy from God's
16:30
intended path, leading straight to ruin.
16:33
And the commentary makes a crucial theological point here,
16:36
rooted firmly and Reformed understanding.
16:38
OK, what's that? Whatever.
16:40
Good is in any of the children of men, or is done by them.
16:43
It is not of themselves, it is God's work in them so.
16:47
Any goodness is from God's grace, not us exactly.
16:50
It highlights the inherent corruption of fallen humanity
16:53
and stark contrast with God's original creation.
16:55
Remember Genesis 1.31? All was very good.
16:59
But later by Genesis 6.5, God found that all was very bad.
17:03
It shows this dramatic, devastating shift.
17:05
It's a powerful picture of our fallen state, emphasizing that
17:09
any true goodness we see in people after the fall is purely
17:12
a product of divine grace, not human ability.
17:16
So if that's. The starting point for all the
17:17
children of men, this universal infection.
17:20
It connects directly to our desperate need for a complete
17:23
internal change, doesn't it? Absolutely.
17:25
The commentary applies. This sobering reality, right to
17:27
our experience, it says since that which is born of the flesh
17:30
is flesh, let us not marvel that we are told we must be born
17:33
again. Yeah, it falls logically.
17:35
It's not. Presented like some optional
17:37
self improvement plan, it's shown as a vital, necessary
17:41
transformation given this deep seated universal infection we
17:45
all carry. It reminds us our spiritual
17:48
condition needs nothing less than a new creation.
17:51
OK, so this internal corruption, this practical atheism Henry
17:55
talks about, it's definitely not just a hidden abstract idea.
17:59
No, it manifests. It doesn't stay.
18:01
Buried in the heart. Instead, it shows up in active,
18:04
outward ways, impacting how people actually behave.
18:07
The psalmist moves from describing the internal
18:09
depravity to detailing the tangible, observable actions
18:13
that come from it. Henry points out four clear
18:16
instances of wickedness. Right.
18:18
Let's look at those. That's right, the first.
18:19
Way this internal corruption shows itself is that they are
18:22
identified as workers of iniquity, workers of iniquity.
18:25
What does that mean exactly? It describes.
18:27
People who design it, they practice it and take as much
18:30
pleasure in it as ever any man did in his business.
18:33
Henry paints this picture of deliberate, intentional sin, so
18:36
it's not accidental. Not at all.
18:38
Not a momentary lapse. It's like an adopted profession,
18:41
a chosen way of life. They approach wickedness with
18:44
the same diligence, planning, and even satisfaction that a
18:48
dedicated Craftsman might approach their trade.
18:51
Wow, so. Sin isn't just committed, it's
18:53
cultivated and enjoyed. That's the.
18:56
Idea. It shows this deep perversion of
18:59
the will, where what is evil is embraced as if it were
19:03
desirable. OK, that's the.
19:04
First one, what's next? The second instance.
19:06
Really highlights their extreme animosity, especially towards
19:09
God's people. They're depicted as eating up
19:12
God's people with as much greediness as they eat bread.
19:15
That's chilling. Imagery it is.
19:17
It speaks to an innate and inveterate enmity, a hostility
19:21
that isn't just superficial disagreement.
19:23
It stems from a deeper hatred for God himself, whose people
19:27
they are attacking. So attacking God.
19:29
'S people is like attacking God in a sense.
19:31
Yes, this persecution is described as being like meat and
19:34
drink to them, a source of sustenance and satisfaction.
19:37
It's done easily, daily, securely, without either check
19:40
of conscience when they do it or remorse of conscience when they
19:43
have done it. No conscience at all.
19:45
Seemingly not. The commentary draws a parallel
19:47
to Joseph's brothers. Remember after throwing him into
19:50
a pit, they I just calmly sat down to eat bread, utterly
19:54
devoid of conscience. Yeah, I remember.
19:56
That horrifying. It highlights this callous
20:00
indifference to suffering, a spiritual hunger for destruction
20:04
that's deeply ingrained in their corrupt nature.
20:07
Their cruelty isn't just an emotional outburst.
20:10
It's calculated almost routine malice.
20:13
OK, that's. Two.
20:14
What's the third instance? The third.
20:16
Is a clear manifestation of their practical atheism.
20:19
They call not upon the Lord. They don't pray.
20:22
Right. And this.
20:23
Isn't just a simple oversight or forgetting, Matthew, Henry
20:26
insists. This neglect of prayer shows a
20:28
clear contempt for God himself. Contempt.
20:30
Strong word again. It is.
20:31
It's a deliberate. Choice to ignore and dismiss the
20:34
sovereign ruler of the universe. The commentary identifies this
20:37
lack of communication with God, this refusal to acknowledge Him
20:41
in prayer, as a core reason why people run into all manner of
20:44
wickedness. Interesting.
20:45
Connection. Lack of prayer leads to
20:48
wickedness. Well, when people cut.
20:50
Themselves off from the source of all grace, wisdom and moral
20:53
guidance, they're left vulnerable to every temptation
20:56
and impulse of their fallen nature.
20:59
Prayer is basically admitting dependence, right?
21:01
Yeah. So it's absence is like a
21:03
declaration of self-sufficiency which inevitably leads towards
21:06
moral chaos. Makes sense?
21:08
OK. And the 4th instance.
21:10
Finally the 4th. Instance of their iniquity.
21:13
They shame the counsel of the poor.
21:15
Shame the counsel of the poor. What does that mean?
21:18
This is an active. Form of spiritual persecution.
21:20
They upbraid them with making God their refuge.
21:24
They openly mock the religious devotion and trust that the
21:27
righteous place in God. So they make fun.
21:29
Of people for trusting God exactly.
21:31
Their intention is to put others out of conceit with religion, to
21:35
make faith seem foolish or pointless.
21:37
They do this by portraying the duties of religion as mean,
21:40
melancholy and unprofitable, and it's privileges like trusting
21:44
God as insufficient to make a man safe and happy, trying to
21:48
discourage. Faith in others, precisely.
21:50
It's this calculated effort to undermine and scoff at piety.
21:54
They want to spread their own atheistic contempt and
21:57
discourage anyone from finding solace or strength in God.
22:01
This aggressive mockery reveals a desire not just to sin
22:04
themselves, but to drag others down with them, to stamp out any
22:08
glimmer of hope or truth that might challenge their own
22:11
depravity. That's a truly.
22:13
Bleak picture of human evil, and Matthew Henry gives a serious
22:17
warning here against doing this, doesn't he?
22:19
He does he. Says it is I'll jesting with
22:21
edge tools and dangerous persecuting those that make God
22:24
their refuge. It's a clear caution that their
22:27
actions have severe consequences both now and later, because God
22:31
himself stands up for his people, right?
22:33
But this? Behavior, this wickedness, it
22:35
also stems from that deeper problem Henry keeps returning to
22:38
their lack of true knowledge, yes.
22:40
The commentary links their abusive actions directly back to
22:42
a fundamental lack of understanding.
22:44
It explicitly says they have no knowledge, and again, that's
22:47
not. A bad IQ?
22:48
No, not. General intelligence.
22:50
It's a lack of moral and spiritual discernment, Henry
22:54
elaborates, saying that if they had any knowledge of God, if
22:57
they did rightly understand themselves and would but
23:00
consider things as men, then they wouldn't be so abusive and
23:03
barbarous as they are to the people of God.
23:06
So their cruelty comes from ignorance of God and themselves?
23:09
Exactly. Their wickedness isn't a sign of
23:12
being smart or strong. It's a sign of profound
23:14
ignorance about God's character, their own purpose, and the
23:18
consequences of their actions. They are indeed fools, thinking
23:22
and acting against clear spiritual light, and maybe even
23:24
against their own deeply suppressed convictions.
23:27
Their folly blinds them, leading them down this path of
23:30
self-destructive malice. OK, so despite.
23:33
Looking secure on the outside may be confident in their
23:35
wickedness, enjoying it even. Henry says they actually face
23:39
great fear. Where does that come from?
23:41
It seems almost contradictory to their outward attitude.
23:44
What's the source of this hidden danger?
23:46
This is where. Henry offers a really insightful
23:48
and maybe surprising look at the inner turmoil of the wicked.
23:52
He unpacks the source of this danger, saying their own
23:55
consciences condemned what they did and filled them with secret
23:59
terrors. So.
24:00
It's internal. The conscience fights back, it
24:02
seems. So this is an external
24:04
punishment, yet it's an internal judgement, this corrosive fear
24:07
eating away at them from inside. The commentary uses a powerful
24:11
analogy quote. They sweetly suck the blood of
24:15
the Saints, but in their bowels it is turned and become the gall
24:18
of ASPs. Wow.
24:21
What they enjoyed turns poisonous inside them.
24:23
Exactly. What they initially found
24:25
satisfying in their persecution later becomes this bitter,
24:27
poisonous torment within their own souls.
24:30
Matthew Henry points to biblical examples like Pashur who
24:33
persecuted Jeremiah and then became terrorists to themselves
24:36
and all about them. Right, I remember.
24:37
Him it illustrates. That those who will not fear God
24:41
perhaps may be made to fear at the shaking of a leaf.
24:44
Their inner world is far from peaceful.
24:47
It's actually a place of deep secret dread and psychological
24:50
torment. It's a chilling testimony to the
24:53
inescapable justice that even a silence conscience can
24:56
eventually inflict. This fear, often unseen by
25:00
others, is a constant companion for those who reject God.
25:04
That is a. Truly stark and comprehensive
25:07
picture of human sin and it's awful consequences.
25:11
It can feel quite heavy reading through that.
25:13
It definitely can. But Psalm 14.
25:15
And it's inspired wisdom. It doesn't just leave us there
25:17
in the darkness, does it? It pivots.
25:19
It offers this powerful counterpoint, shifting our focus
25:22
to the comfort and hope that are always available for God's
25:24
people, even when surrounded by such corruption and hostility.
25:28
That turn. Is so important.
25:29
Yeah, it feels necessary. For the human heart after
25:31
dwelling on the previous verses and what's really.
25:34
Urging here is that even when things look bleak, even when
25:36
facing active persecution, the song gives concrete, present
25:40
assurances for the righteous things they can hold on to right
25:44
now. OK, what are?
25:45
Those Matthew Henry. Highlights 2 main comforts.
25:48
First, there's the reassurance of God's tangible presence.
25:52
He is in the generation of the righteous.
25:54
God is with them. Exactly.
25:55
Not just an abstract idea, but a living reality.
25:59
It means God isn't distant, not some absentee landlord, but he's
26:02
intimately involved with his people.
26:04
He dwells among them, guiding, sustaining, actively
26:08
participating in their lives. That presence brings real
26:12
comfort. Knowing you're never truly
26:14
alone. That's huge.
26:16
What's the second comfort? The second is.
26:17
God's act of protection, The Lord is their refuge.
26:21
This provides a very real sense of security, a safe haven even
26:25
despite enemies. Mockery, a refuge.
26:27
A safe place, yes. A divine shield against the
26:30
threats, the taunts, the dangers they face.
26:32
And Henry adds that this divine ownership and protection, it
26:35
will be powerfully confirmed in the final judgement vindication.
26:39
Right. And that moment.
26:40
Will only add to the terror and confusion of sinners to see God
26:43
own the generation of the righteous which they have hated
26:45
and bantered. It promises this great reversal,
26:48
a clear demonstration of God's sovereign care for His own.
26:51
So there's real. Tangible comfort.
26:53
Right now, God is near. God is a refuge.
26:56
But then the song looks beyond the immediate, doesn't it?
26:59
It builds on that assurance with a believing prayer for the
27:02
salvation of Israel and a joyful expectation of it.
27:06
This points us forward to a future hope much bigger than
27:09
just surviving today. It really does.
27:11
It's a cosmic hope. Matthew Henry explains that this
27:14
hope reaches far beyond, say, David's personal situation, like
27:17
just hoping to return from Absalom's rebellion or win a
27:20
political victory. Instead, Henry sees it pointing
27:23
towards a much broader messianic expectation.
27:26
It's a deep longing for the salvation which should be
27:28
wrought out by the Redeemer who is expected to come to Zion to
27:32
turn away ungodliness from Jacob.
27:34
He's directly quoting Romans 11.26 there.
27:37
So it's. About the Messiah, About
27:39
ultimate salvation. Exactly this.
27:40
Isn't just about earthly freedom or restoring Israel's golden
27:43
age. It's about spiritual
27:44
restoration, A longing for God to act decisively, to reverse
27:49
the deep sea to corruption of human nature that the Psalm just
27:52
described so vividly. A prayer for.
27:54
God to fix the root problem, yes.
27:57
A plea for God to bring in His righteous reign and conquer sin
28:01
once and for all through His chosen Messiah.
28:04
It's a prayer for the ultimate healing of this broken world.
28:07
And this isn't just. Passively waiting is it?
28:09
It feels active, hopeful. Very much so.
28:12
The commentary describes this eager anticipation of times of
28:15
reformation, times that will be as joyful times as these are
28:20
melancholy ones. It anticipates A definitive end
28:23
to that universal corruption we talked about earlier.
28:26
Something truly. Transformative to look forward
28:28
to? Absolutely.
28:29
Something that will utterly change the current bleak
28:31
reality. It gives the listener something
28:33
substantial, something guaranteed.
28:35
So how does this? Salvation, these reformation
28:37
times actually happen. Well, Henry.
28:40
Connects it directly to the Redeemer's triumph.
28:42
He links the Psalms hope straight to the work of Christ.
28:44
He says the Redeemer shall ascend on high and lead
28:47
captivity captive, and Jacob shall then rejoice leading
28:50
captivity. Captive.
28:51
That's a powerful imagery it speaks of.
28:53
Christ's victory over sin and death, His triumph and
28:57
ascension, and then the liberation of his people from
28:59
the bondage of spiritual captivity, Henry summarizes.
29:03
The triumphs of Zion's king will be the joys of Zion's children,
29:07
So the King's. Victory is the people's joy.
29:09
Exactly. It's a picture of total,
29:11
resounding victory over sin and it's devastating effects ending
29:15
in this joyous communal celebration for everyone who
29:18
belongs to God. A joy that's secure because it's
29:21
rooted in the finished work of the King.
29:23
It's not temporary, it's permanent, secured and this.
29:26
Hope it points even further, doesn't it?
29:28
To the ultimate fulfillment, a grand cosmic redemption?
29:32
Yes, beyond. Even the first coming, the
29:34
commentary states with this clear eschatological view, the
29:37
second coming of Christ finally to extinguish the dominion of
29:40
sin and Satan will be the completing of this salvation,
29:44
the final. Completion, right And this is?
29:46
Described as the hope and will be the joy of every Israelite.
29:50
Indeed, it's this comprehensive cosmic redemption that believers
29:55
have looked forward to throughout history.
29:58
A complete and glorious reversal of everything wrong with the
30:01
world, securing eternal righteousness and peace.
30:04
And this grand vision, it provides really relevant comfort
30:08
for believers today, right now, even as we live in a world still
30:11
struggling with sin and suffering.
30:13
How so? Matthew Henry encourages us to
30:15
find solace with reference to the present sins of sinners and
30:18
sufferings of Saints. This hope isn't just some
30:21
abstract theology for the future.
30:23
It's a practical, sustaining truth for our daily lives.
30:26
It's meant to encourage mutual comfort among believers,
30:29
reminding us that even with sin still present, even with the
30:32
trials the righteous face, God's plan for salvation, is
30:35
absolutely certain and will be fully realized.
30:38
This sure hope lets us endure present hardships with a joyful,
30:41
expectant heart, knowing our King will return to set
30:44
everything right. OK, this deep.
30:46
Dive into Psalm 14 using Matthew Henry's commentary as our guide.
30:50
It's taken us on quite a journey, hasn't it?
30:52
It really has. Started in that.
30:54
Heavy place of universal human depravity, the malignancy of
30:58
sin, but ultimately brought us to the bright light of divine
31:01
grace and the sure promise of salvation through the Redeemer.
31:05
It offers this clear path from humanity's profound unbrokenness
31:09
to God's sovereign restoration. It does indeed.
31:12
And Matthew Henry's application advice for this Psalm is just
31:15
incredibly practical, I think, especially for those of us
31:18
trying to align our thinking with reformed principles.
31:21
What are the key? Takeaways, he suggests.
31:23
Well, first he. Encourages us to lament the
31:25
corruption of our own nature. He urges the sober
31:28
acknowledgement of how deep our fallenness goes, rather than any
31:32
superficial denial. Be honest about our.
31:34
Condition exactly. And from that honest assessment,
31:37
we're then led to recognize what need we have of the grace of God
31:41
to understand clearly that any good in US or any righteous act
31:45
we do, it originates not from ourselves, but solely from His
31:48
merciful working in US, Grace alone.
31:51
Grace. Alone.
31:52
And given that, as the commentary reminds us, that
31:55
which is born of the flesh is flesh, therefore we shouldn't be
31:58
surprised, We shouldn't marvel that we are told we must be born
32:01
again. This divine intervention is
32:03
absolutely necessary. It's an act of new creation,
32:06
right? And finally, facing the ongoing
32:08
reality of the sins of sinners and sufferings of Saints in this
32:12
world right now, we're told to find comfort and strength in the
32:15
salvation of Israel and the victorious triumphs of Zion's
32:19
king. We should take heart and
32:21
encourage each other with this glorious future that is
32:24
absolutely guaranteed by God's faithfulness that brings us
32:27
then. To our final thought for you,
32:29
our listener, something to carry with you from this deep dive
32:31
into Psalm 14. How does understanding this
32:35
practical atheism, which Matthew Henry identifies at the heart of
32:38
all sin, how does that reshape your view of humanity's ongoing
32:42
rebellion both out there in the world and maybe even honestly
32:45
within your own heart? And then how does the promised
32:49
salvation of Israel culminating in Christ's final return, how
32:53
does that anchor your hope in a world that's still clearly
32:56
marked by so much corruption and suffering?
33:00
Something to reflect on there, definitely.
33:01
Well, thank. You for joining.
33:02
Us here on Reform Thinking for this deep dive into Psalm 14.
33:05
We really trust that the truth we've uncovered here, guided by
33:08
Matthew Henry's careful commentary, will give you much
33:11
to contemplate and apply to your own walk of faith in the days
33:14
ahead. Yeah, May.
33:15
These biblical insights continue to be irrelevant and life giving
33:19
for you as you walk in light of God's sovereign plan and His
33:22
unfailing promises we sign off for.
33:24
Now, until our next deep dive.