GOD SPEAKS TWICE
PSALM 53:1-6
PSALM 53:1-6
Introduction:
“The evil nature of man is here brought before our view a second time, in almost the same inspired words. (See Psalm 14).
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 age has advanced from fourteen to fifty-three, we shall find the doctrine of this Psalm more evident than in our youth.” —Charles H. Spurgeon
I. THE EVIL NATURE OF MAN
A. The FACT of sin, v. 1; Genesis 6:12, “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”
1. Many say, “There is no God to punish and avenge the wicked,” Psalms 10:4, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
2. That means no law, no order, no restraint to lust, and no limit to passion, Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”
B. The FAULT of sin, v. 1.
1. It is iniquity, = gross injustice or wickedness, Job 15:16, “How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?”
a. Iniquity causes love for God to become cold, Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
b. Iniquity results in hypocrisy, Matthew 23:28, “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”
2. It is that in which there is no good, v. 3; Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
3. It is that in which there is a lack of the knowledge of God, v. 4; Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
a. Because they have rejected knowledge, John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
b. Without knowledge of God man is like a beast, Psalms 73:22, “So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”
C. The fountain of sin, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
D. The folly or foolishness of sin, v. 4; Jeremiah 4:22, “For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.”
E. The filthiness of sin, Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
F. The fear and shame that results from sin, v. 5; Psalms 35:26, “Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.”
G. The faith of the saints, v. 6; Psalms 50:2, “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.”
1. The Lord has done great things for them, Psalms 126:2, “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.”
2. God’s people will triumph in His praise, Psalms 106:47, “Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.”
3. We will draw water out of the wells of salvation with joy, Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
CONCLUSION