Psalm 14 (13):1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Scripture proclaims, "There is no God" (Psalm 13:1); it also states that God has hidden His face and will not see (Psalm 9:32), and it is further written that He will not give voice to His lament (Psalm 9:34). So, I ask, is there truly no God? Does He not observe the events upon the earth? Who would dare to voice such a thought, or even entertain it? While it is indeed noted in Scripture, understand how it is recorded. It is said that the foolish man declares in his heart, "There is no God." This assertion does not reflect the conviction of Scripture but rather the folly of a deranged mind; Scripture conveys the perspective of one who is misguided rather than its own view. It further questions, "Why has the wicked provoked God?" because in his heart, he claims, "He will not call upon Him." Here too, the thoughts of a depraved man are presented. Much like a physician who warns the healthy by recounting the misconduct of the ill, the intention of Scripture is to expose the wickedness of the obstinate, guiding the faithful to heed and refrain from such behavior. It articulates the foolish man's folly to impart wisdom and urges us away from sinfulness. The integrity of speech must be maintained, and the words of Scripture should be relayed in full, without alteration. Numerous individuals misquote other passages and misinterpret them.

When a master faces scorn, a devoted servant, loyal to him, feels the sting of that insult. Similarly, when God faces rejection, His prophet admonishes the foolish, echoing what is stated: "The foolish man said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” A faithful servant, upon witnessing his peers disown their master, feels compelled to intervene—to chastise the insolent or to inform their master of the offense. In a summary, he stands as a protector against betrayal, just as the prophet, observing the dishonor of the Creator by His creation, responds with deep anguish, "The foolish man said in his heart, “There is no God.”" This reflects a strong resonance with the preceding psalm, where the psalmist expresses displeasure: "How long, O Lord, wilt thou forget me forever?" (Psalm 12:2), followed shortly by "How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?" (3). The adversary, signified as the madman who denies God, berates himself internally with queries about the afflictions of his heart, asking, "Why do I suffer?" His answer reveals that his turmoil stems from the belief of the foolish: "There is no God." This companionship with a godless individual is perceived as Divine abandonment. Living alongside one who rejects God becomes anguish for the righteous. As illustrated in the instance of Paul, who, while waiting in Athens, was stirred in spirit by the multitude of idols (Acts 17:16).

Historically, it is important to note that this psalm is attributed to David and references Saul in his madness, much like Psalm 52 which relates to Doeg. The deranged Saul sought counsel from a medium, saying, "Find me a woman who is a medium" (1 Samuel 28:7), resembling the second Adam, led astray by a woman. In his desperation, he sought the occult, forsaking prophetic guidance. “The foolish man said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” We must be vigilant, my brethren, not to succumb like the madman who professes faith with his lips yet denies God through his actions—claiming God is good and merciful while neglecting the needy, the poor, and the oppressed. This denial can manifest not merely in words but through deeds. The apostle warns, “They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works” (Titus 1:16). Actions carry far more weight than mere words; it is far easier to deny God verbally than through action.

The one who professes, "I will love You, O Lord," yet harbors hatred for his brother, how genuine is his claim? He defies the commandment to love God wholly and his neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). The Lord instructs, "He who loves Me will keep My word" (John 14:23). Therefore, failure to abide by His word signifies a lack of love for Him. With his mouth, he calls upon God while his heart dismisses His existence. The Lord reveals, “This people draws near to Me with their mouth and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Isaiah 29:13). Hence, "The foolish man said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” John wisely states that the individual who despises his brother also harbors enmity against God: “He who says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he can see, how can he love God whom he cannot see?” (1 John 4:20). Thus, one who professes faith in words yet permits wickedness to fester in their heart embodies the folly of a madman.

In further verification, the prophet observes, "Shall not all who practice iniquity become aware?"—those who claim to acknowledge God yet fail to act accordingly, “They eat up My people like bread, and do not call upon the Lord” (v. 4). They profess belief in God, yet their actions betray them, revealing their lack of genuine communion with Him. The Lord Himself admonishes, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Those who live in sin, devoid of virtue, abandon good works, as godliness ceases where sin abounds. The children of Eli, for instance, exemplified this, not in verbal denial but by committing abominable acts within God's sanctuary. The moneylenders, too, are ignorant of God, as the prophet asserts, “By deceit they refuse to know Me” (Jeremiah 9:6), even as God commands, “If you lend money to My people, the poor among you, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest” (Exodus 22:25). If there is indeed no God, what makes that which is in accordance with His will? How can there be any semblance of divinity in the world? Are all people mistaken in affirming God's reality, while only the madman maintains his delusion?

How can a singular madman refute the collective acknowledgment of humanity? When presented in the court of truth, he will be laid bare. The universe, along with the tongues of countless nations, cannot be dismissed by the solitary assertions of one misguided individual. Such folly denies the integrity that binds creation to its Creator. "The foolish man said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Without a foundation, how can any structure stand? A ship requires a builder; without the architect, how is a city established? If there is no Provider, how are all things sustained and governed under divine providence? Without a charioteer, how do the aspects of creation maneuver? The heavens and the earth testify to the artistry of their Maker (Psalm 135:7-9); the beauty of creation itself attests to the greatness of its Creator.

Through all that exists in the world, there is stewardship and purpose, yet only in the world is there neglect of such. If there is no God, why do you dwell in His realm without recognizing His authority? It is foolhardy to disparage and desecrate His sacred creation while dwelling within it. The psalmist does not refer to madness simply as the loss of reason but as the corruption of understanding in the heart. Those who lack wisdom cannot appreciate the call to discernment and righteousness. The maimed mind becomes incapable of understanding truth, yet the one who utters, "There is no God," hides malicious intent within. He does not speak openly, aware of the consequences of blasphemy that would lead to punishment, as foretold in the tales of Nebuchadnezzar, condemned for his insolence. To preserve himself, he guards his wicked notions in silence, making a sanctuary of his heart for his depravity.

"The foolish man said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’" Had he been devoid of reason from birth, openly declaring such blasphemy would pose no threat to him; after all, rulers often forgive the irrational or insane, extending mercy rather than wrath. Therefore, those afflicted by demonic influence are not held accountable for blasphemy. Furthermore, anyone adhering to polytheism also echoes the foolish creed of denying a singular God. The introduction of multiple deities is an affront to the true God, as articulated by the apostle Paul to the Ephesians: "Remember that you were once Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcised by those who are so called, that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:11, 12). The Ephesians, worshipping various idols and honing in on graven figures like Artemis, exemplified godlessness by trading loyalty to the One True God for their multitude of false deities.

This madness originated with the devil, the original promoter of folly who cast doubt upon the singularity of God’s authority with the temptation, “You shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5). Even in their delusions, the people of Judah rejected God’s truth, blaspheming against Christ by asserting that if He was truly a prophet, He would have recognized a sinful woman who dared to touch Him (Luke 7:39). Failing to acknowledge Him as a prophet, how could they ever recognize His divine nature? “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Yet, Christ responded, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:7, 8).

While God is ever-present, He remains absent from the heart of the foolish. Thus, He proclaimed to the synagogue: “I have been forgotten, cast aside from your heart” (Isaiah 57:11; 2 Samuel 14:9). The first fool, the devil, engendered a legacy of madness, seeking to rival God and declaring, “I will ascend to heaven” (Isaiah 14:13, 14). He avoided uttering God's name; rather, he referred to Him as "the Most High," refraining from accepting His authority outright. This pattern continues today, as ardent heretics avoid calling Church leaders by their rightful titles, choosing instead to use generic terms to distance themselves from the sacred roles they embody. The devil, in his folly, claimed to be "like the Most High," refusing to acknowledge God directly.

The prophet aptly highlights this deceit: "The foolish man said in his heart." This is a past tense declaration, revealing that the madman once fell into this mental trap. After uttering such folly, he was cast out from heaven—no longer daring to voice it for fear of suffering its consequences. Those who once denied God become ashamed of their rebellion after experiencing judgment.

Though he no longer expresses his blasphemous thoughts openly, he nevertheless propagates them through others of a similar mindset. The foolishness of Pharaoh, who claimed, “I do not know the Lord” (Exodus 5:2), ultimately led him to destruction amidst the sea. Likewise, Sennacherib, who doubted God’s omnipotence, acted against Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:29) and faced ruin, as did Judas, who rejected God's existence: "Satan entered Judas Iscariot" (John 13:2). The foolish man reiterates the sentiment: “There is no God.” Had he acknowledged God at that moment, he would not have betrayed Him nor led others to commit sacrilege.

"They became corrupt and vile in deed," for they followed the devil, suffering the same fate as he. Jeopardizing their own intrinsic goodness, they exchanged the eternal, incorruptible for the temporal, corrupted, transforming the glory of God into representations of mere mortals (Romans 1:23). Their thoughts became polluted, and as such, they turned vile, dwelling amidst their sins like swine in the mud (2 Peter 2:22), failing to seek the Healer of souls. They duly engendered a widespread transgression that tainted their connection with God.

The individual who embraces this mindset becomes indifferent to sin. Such a person will not think twice about engaging in any wrongdoing. If there is no authority to oversee actions, nor anyone to reward each according to their deeds in life, what will restrain us from oppressing the marginalized, harming orphans, mistreating widows, or committing any acts of dishonesty? What will hold us back from succumbing to impure and vile desires, indulging in all sorts of base passions? Consequently, the belief that God does not exist leads to turmoil and wretchedness in the foundations of life. For someone who has forgotten God, straying from righteousness is inevitable. Why are the nations given up “to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Rom. 1:28)?

This psalm vividly exposes the depravity and sinfulness of humanity in all their pursuits to underscore the imperative of Christ’s arrival. The fool declares in his heart, "There is no God." By denying the existence of a divine being who rightly assesses and governs human actions, they have committed countless unjust acts. Consequently, due to this very disbelief, the Lord has descended from heaven.

The fool proclaims in his heart, "There is no God." The opening lines of the psalm echo the statements made by Sennacherib and Rapsack. "Thorns and loathsome pursuits; there is none who does good." The Prophet asserts that the source and essence of evil is the degradation of life. By surrendering to self-indulgence and animalistic ways, you have expelled the awareness of God from your thoughts, and the followers have succumbed to the insanity of their leader.

The existence of God is an accepted truth for those who regard the Holy Scriptures—both the Old and New Testaments—as well as for numerous individuals among the Greeks. As previously mentioned, awareness of God's existence is embedded within our nature. However, the malice of the Evil One has deeply influenced human nature, leading some to fall into an abyss of ruinous ignorance, causing them to declare that God does not exist. To counteract this folly, the prophet David proclaimed, “The foolish man says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Thus, the disciples and apostles of our Lord, endowed with wisdom from the Holy Spirit and empowered by His grace to perform miraculous acts, brought those lost in ignorance into the illumination of divine understanding through their signs. Similarly, the successors of their sacred calling—pastors and teachers—who have received the enlightening grace of the Spirit, have illuminated the darkened and guided the misled, both through miraculous power and the message of grace.

The misguided Sennacherib believed in his heart that the God of Israel was not the true God. Had he truly acknowledged God’s supremacy, such blasphemy would not have entered his mind, especially during a period when he was constantly informed of the divine wonders displayed against the foes of the Israelites. Not only did he harbor these rebellious thoughts, but he also openly derided the God of Israel and sent his chief officer, Rapsak, to lay siege to Jerusalem—a narrative chronicled in 1 Samuel chapters 18 and 19, as well as in the prophet Isaiah in chapters 36 and 37. He remarked that those surrounding Sennacherib had become corrupt, having lost their understanding of the Almighty and true piety; they were despicable in God’s sight due to their wicked deeds.

The spirit is the rudder of the whole being of man. It advises, it admonishes, and it guides. The soul and the body are directed by the spirit. If the spirit is right before God, the whole man is right. If the spirit is not, then neither is the whole man. When man thinks, 'There is no God,' this immediately becomes visible in his actions.

A wrathful deity, devoid of any shared significance.

To the conclusion, a song dedicated to David. In this song, the Prophet mourns the degradation of human nature, which is most evident in the faithless and wicked individuals.

In the interpretation, the fool declares in his heart, "There is no God." Such lunacy exemplifies the extent to which human nature, tainted by the original sin of the first man, has deteriorated. There exists one who, though hesitant to verbally deny God's existence, internally claims, "There is no God." The Prophet's intention is not to reference a specific known madman, but rather to highlight that those corrupted by sin are so blinded that they appear mad in the sight of the Almighty. They believe there is no God who attends to human affairs, to whom they should be accountable.

Psalm 13 closely resembles Psalm 52; however, the superscription of Psalm 52 includes "of Maeleph," which likely signifies illness and moral decay. It further adds that it is a psalm for understanding, identified in Hebrew as masqil, meaning a song intended to instruct and enlighten – essentially a didactic composition. The most notable difference arises in verse 6 of Psalm 52, where the expression flows more freely compared to Psalm 13, suggesting that Psalm 52 was composed later. The original text of Psalm 13 soon gained a reputation for its complexity, which could explain the alterations found in Psalm 52. If one were to ascribe its origin to a specific historical event, it might have been during Saul's persecution, rather than during Absalom's rebellion.

The concept of a supreme and original Creator, the everlasting God, is intrinsically woven into the fabric of human existence, providing for individuals a reality as undeniable as their own presence in the world, or the truth that a house cannot construct itself, nor can a clock function without a watchmaker. One merely needs to stand in an open field on a luminous night, gazing at a star-studded sky, for the soul to bear witness to God. Consequently, to arrive at the rejection not only of God's Revelation and Providence but also of His very existence itself is an act that can only result from intent or coercion. Achieving such denial necessitates the suppression of the inherent belief in God—a belief that lingers in the hearts of the fallen. Often, a life corrupted by sin fosters such disbelief. Thus, the transgressors bear a grave burden of guilt.

This psalm, along with others, was divinely inspired for David by the Holy Spirit to address the folly of irreverent individuals, particularly the Jewish people. They have rejected Christ the Lord, the one true God and the Messiah long awaited throughout history. Blessed are those who ignore Jewish myths and instead believe and lead others to the truth that the Son of God has come to illuminate our understanding, granting us knowledge of the true God, as stated in Titus 1:14 and 1 John 5:20. The ignorant among the Jews, who do not confess Christ as the true God with both heart and mouth, are driven by their own desires rather than by the divine law. They err by denying the existence of a God who punishes wrongdoing.

The adversary continues to battle against the offspring of the woman: devotion wanes, faith dims, righteousness is scorned, and the genuine followers of God dwindle to a mere remnant, nearly invisible against the vast multitude of the unrighteous. As the prophet declares, the Lord visited the earth, and what did the gaze of God reveal? There is no one who understands, no one who does good, not even one. Indeed, a shadow covers the entire world; true righteousness shines solely in Judah, yet even there, only a handful of luminaries remain—few individuals who uphold their trust in the promise. This small assembly of the faithful finds themselves amidst a perilous society filled with the wicked.