Click here to read PSALM 53 in poetic form.
Background
This Psalm has the title “Maschil,” which means instruction. It was used for public teaching and shows the victory God gives through His Messiah.
Structure
(Verse 1) Fools say there is no God
(Verses 2,3) God’s response: seeking the good
(Verse 4) God’s people: evil workers attack them
(Verse 5) Fools fear where there is no fear
(Verse 5) God’s response: despising the evil
(Verse 6) God’s people: salvation from captivity
Key Scriptures
Verse 1—“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.” This is repeated from Psalm 14:1. In truth, there is no other real god or savior than the Lord God Almighty, our heavenly Father (Deuteronomy 32:39; I Kings 8:23; II Kings 5:15; II Chronicles 6:14; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; 45:5,14,21; Hosea 13:4).
Verses 2,3—“God looked down from heaven…there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Like Psalms 51:4, this section is quoted in Romans 3. The context of this quote in Romans 3:11,12 is that “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his [God’s] sight” (verse 20). So what is the answer? This simple truth in verse 24: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” It is only through God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, that God’s true salvation comes.
Verse 5—“God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee.” This is similar to Psalms 141:7: “Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth.” A proper burial was an important part of Biblical culture. To have one’s bones scattered and not placed “at rest” was a grievous and despicable fate. Verses 4-6 are similar to Psalms 14:4-7. Note that this phrase about scattered bones is added to Psalms 52:4-6 to show God’s justice against the wicked, whereas Psalms 14:4-7 focuses on God’s goodness to the righteous.
Verse 6—“Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people.” This was accomplished at Calvary on Mt. Zion, when Jesus Christ died for our sins. Now we have salvation and eternal life through him.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
