There are places in the Bible where truth is stated more than once with some variations for particular reasons, such as the epistles of Ephesians and Colossians. In those two books, similar teaching is given but from two different points of view. Psalm 53 and Psalm 14 are almost identical except for the difference in the title of the psalm and the word used most often for “God.” The word “Mahalath” concerns sickness and sorrow, so it is likely looking ahead to a time yet to come. Also, this is a “Maschil” psalm, which means it is not only a statement of fact but has to do with the truth that needs to be taught. The word used for “God” in this psalm is “Elohim,” the Creator God, in contrast to the word “Jehovah” used four times in Psalm 14, and “Elohim” three times. This psalm is not just about conduct but also about moral corruption. So, “iniquity” is emphasized in this psalm, while “works” is used in Psalm 14.
The instruction for us, as we look ahead, is that the prevalence of atheism is the concern and reason for this psalm rather than lifestyle. Evolution is a philosophy in our day. Atheism and evolution are religious beliefs, not theories, in the minds of most people. It has permeated the society of Western nations almost to the same degree as that of communist nations. In this psalm, it makes us look ahead to the time of the reign of the antichrist, who will deny the existence of God and claim to be a god himself. The spirit of the antichrist is found in 1st John 2:22. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.” “There is no God,” or “No God for me,” is very common in the minds and words of people today.
The first part of this psalm describes atheism, which will be the main characteristic of the reign of the antichrist and will lead to unspeakable horrors and events that will happen in the world because of the rejection of God and persecution of His people. The last two verses express the desire of the believing remnant who know Israel has a future under the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is a covenant-keeping God. He is sovereign, He is almighty, and He is in control of the whole universe. The fool referred to in this psalm is willfully ignorant, not a stupid person. He or she chooses to refuse the person, power, presence, and authority of God the Creator despite all the evidence of our Creator-God and His existence. The fool is an atheist. He or she refuses and deliberately rejects the work of the Holy Spirit in conviction of sin, stirring the conscience and the Bible as the word of God. They also do not recognize the remarkable evidence of the nation of Israel itself as a nation to be reckoned with among the nations of the world, despite the small size of its population and land.
Atheists cannot conceive in their deliberately short-sighted intellect that there is more to our existence than what they see and know in their human limitations and limited experience. Some believers spiritualize the book of Revelation and other prophetic books because they believe the church today is the Israel of prophecy and of the future. Those who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible know that God is not done with Israel. Zion means Zion. Jacob means Jacob. Israel means Israel. God will answer the prayer of the last verse of this psalm, and Israel will be glad again.
We must remember that God is not affected by what we think of Him, but we are eternally affected by what He thinks of us. The reason people choose to deny the existence of God and deliberately reject revealed truth has to do with their desire to sin and keep on sinning. It has nothing to do with God’s existence but has all to do with human desire to do wrong and think they are getting away with it. If they can convince themselves or be convinced by someone else that God does not exist, they think there will be peace in their soul. However, human conscience makes that impossible. In the human person, there is body, soul, and spirit, and though the spirit of an unbeliever is dead to God, the conscience does God’s work when the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
For a person to believe they are accountable to God and yet not love and obey Him leaves them in a condition of fear of meeting Him. When God judges in the future, “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after death the judgment,” it will be too late to change anything. To admit to guilt and apologize to Him for rejecting Him is not the point of the great white throne. This time on earth in our lifetime is our opportunity to put faith in Him, in His word, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved from the wrath to come.
PSALM 53 v.1. The atheistic fool is a type of Antichrist. People may say there is no God to cover their sins and excuse themselves for continuing in sin, or to avoid the Judge and the judgment. Fools do not necessarily lack intelligence. They reject God, the only One who can save them.
v.2-3. "Mahalath" has to do with sickness and sorrow, referring to the terrible days when the Antichrist rules. The difference in this psalm and Psalm 14 is the way the name of God is used. In Psalm 14, Jehovah is used four times and Elohim 3 times. In Psalm 53, the word Elohim is used seven times. Elohim is the name of God as the Creator. Atheism is relative to creation. The Bible is not considered relevant, trustworthy, infallible, or inerrant. Genesis is branded as a myth, and evolution is their explanation. One university president said, "We no longer take anything for granted, not even the existence of God." That is the spirit of the Antichrist.
v.4-5. God is not affected by what we think of Him. We are definitely and eternally affected by what God thinks of us. Rejecting God does not have anything to do with His existence. It has everything to do with human sinfulness. David is not afraid to pray or to praise God and express his feelings and needs. His spirit lifted as he praised God, his helper and protector. He believed God would deal with his enemies.
v.6. God is not through with Israel. God has promises to fulfill for Israel. A lot of people do not believe Israel has a future. To try to fit scripture into men's ideas is next to denying the inspiration of scripture by God. Salvation is coming out of Zion. God is going to bring His people back. Israel as a nation will experience God's dealing with them again as a nation.