Psalms-14-&-15
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Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).
Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations
of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and
history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected
like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have completly disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ – ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction
to Psalms 14 & 15:
It is a beautiful choice to pair these two
Psalms together. In the Hebrew structure of the Psalter, Psalm 14 and Psalm 15 act as a perfect
‘mirror’ of one another.
Psalm 14 describes the depravity of man, the world as it is when אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is ignored.
Psalm 15 describes the integrity of the righteous, the man who is fit to dwell in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence. Together, they answer the ultimate question: In a world of corruption, how shall a man live?
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Introduction: The Fool’s World:
This Psalm is a lament over the moral decay of society. It begins with the ‘Fool’ (Nabal), which in Hebrew thought does not mean someone of low intelligence, but someone of low moral character who chooses to live as if there is no Divine Judge.
1. “For
the Leader. (A Psalm) of David.
The fool hath said in his heart: ‘There is no אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’; they have dealt corruptly, they have done abominably; there is none
that doeth good.
2. יְהוָה - the LORD looked forth from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any man of understanding, that did seek after אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
3. They are all corrupt, they are together become impure; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4. ‘Shall not all the workers of iniquity know it, who eat up My people as they eat bread, and call not upon יְהוָה - the LORD?’
5. There are they in great fear; for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim - is with the righteous generation.
6. Ye would put to shame the counsel of the poor, but יְהוָה - the LORD is his refuge.
7. Oh that
the salvation of Israel
were come out of Zion! When יְהוָה - the
LORD turneth the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be
glad.
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We will now
look at the ‘verse by verse’ section for Psalm 14:
Verse 1: “The fool hath said in his heart: ‘There is no אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’”.
Notice he says it ‘in his heart’; it is a wish for freedom from accountability. The result is immediate: they are corrupt and do ‘abominable deeds’.
Verse 2: “יְהוָה - the LORD looked forth from heaven ... to see if there were any man of understanding”.
This mirrors the language of the Generation of the Flood. אֱלֹהִים is searching for one person who ‘seeks after אֱלֹהִים’.
Verse 3: The sad conclusion: “They are all gone aside... there is none that doeth good”.
Without the anchor of the Divine, the moral fabric of society unravels.
Verse 4: The wicked “eat up My people as they eat bread”.
They treat the vulnerable as a common resource to be consumed.
Verses 5-6: They are suddenly struck with “great fear”, because they realize that אֱלֹהִים is indeed “in the generation of the righteous”.
They tried to shame the poor, but יְהוָה - the LORD is their refuge.
Verse 7: The prayer for salvation. “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!” This connects back to our previous study of Zion as the seat of authority.
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Now
we turn to Tehillim - Psalm 15: The Guest of the Almighty:
1. A Psalm of David. יְהוָה - LORD, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Thy holy mountain?
2. He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart;
3. That hath no slander upon his tongue, nor doeth evil to his fellow, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour;
4. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honoureth them that fear יְהוָה - the
LORD;
he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;
5. He that putteth not out his money on
interest, nor taketh a bribe against the innocent.
He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Introduction:
The Character of the Citizen of Zion:
While Psalm 14 asks ‘Who is corrupt?’, Psalm 15 asks the opposite: ‘יְהוָה - LORD, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle?’ It provides a checklist of eleven ethical qualities required of those who wish to be near the Holy One.
We again
turn to the ‘verse by verse’ section for Psalm 15:
Verse 1: The Great Question. Who is worthy to dwell on the ‘holy mountain’?
Verse 2: The three-fold foundation: Walking uprightly, Working righteousness, and Speaking truth in the heart. (Integrity starts internally).
Verse 3: The control of the tongue. He does not ‘slander’, do ‘evil to his fellow’, nor ‘take up a reproach’ (listen to gossip) ‘against his neighbour’.
Verse 4: Values. He despises what is vile but honours those who fear יְהוָה - the LORD. Most importantly: ‘He sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not’. If he makes a promise that turns out to be difficult to keep, he keeps it anyway.
Verse 5: Financial Integrity. He does not give money ‘upon usury’ (taking interest from the poor) nor takes a bribe.
Conclusion: "He that doeth these things shall never be moved."
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Cross-References
(JPS-1917 Tanakh):
1. Isaiah 33:14–15 (The Parallel Question)
The verse:
“Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?... He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly...”
Insight: Isaiah expands on Psalm 15, showing that ’s presence is like a fire—only those with pure character can survive the "heat" of His holiness.
2. Micah 6:8 (The Summary)
The verse:
“It hath been told thee, O man, what is good, and what יְהוָה - the LORD doth require of thee: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy אֱלֹהִים - Elohim”.
Insight: Micah provides a concise summary of the eleven requirements listed in Psalm 15.
Conclusion:
From Corruption to Consistency:
The pairing of these two Psalms offers a us a powerful lesson: The world may be in an uproar (Psalm 2) and filled with those who ignore אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (Psalm 14), but the individual’s task remains the same (Psalm 15). The ‘Fool’ of Psalm 14 thinks אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is blind to his actions. The ‘Citizen of Zion’ in Psalm 15 knows that every word spoken and every coin handled is an act of worship. To ‘never be moved’ (15:5) is the reward for the one who recognizes that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is looking down from heaven (14:2).
For we are a ‘dweller of Zion’ because we must continue to ‘speak truth in our hearts’ and teach it to the next generation!
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as
follows;
“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim,
Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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