OT: Psalms 53:1-6

Reading:

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. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.  Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God. There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Commentary:

“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.” The Fall of Adam and Eve into sin, was the total corruption of all mankind. This original sin still infects every human, so that we are not neutral regarding good and evil, nor do we have a good will to choose between the two.  Rather we are positively corrupt. “God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.  Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” Even after conversion this corruptness remains within us (the Old Adam), though God has given us His grace and Spirit to know our blessed salvation in Christ.  Thus the Psalmist finally says (with an eager heart), “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.” Old Testament believers longed for the day Christ would come and save them from sin.