Those who reject the Lord harm others and themselves, yet God’s grace still offers them a path to redemption.
David, traditionally understood to have written Psalm 14 around 1000 BC, continues his lament against those who disregard God by asking, “Do all the workers of wickedness not know, Who eat up My people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the LORD?” (v.4) Here, David points out the arrogance and cruelty of those who exploit others and fail to seek the Lord. In Israel’s history, turning away from God often led to moral and social decay. The phrase “eat up My people as they eat bread” (v.4) conveys not just physical harm, but a total disregard for the dignity of God’s people. David’s question, “Do…not know” (v.4), underscores the folly of those who believe they can oppress others without consequence, echoing the biblical theme that God is a constant witness to injustice (Psalm 34:15).
This verse reveals that, while wicked people might refuse to acknowledge the Lord, God remains sovereign over all. Their failure to “call upon the LORD” (v.4) suggests a dependence on human means rather than divine guidance. This idea resonates throughout Scripture, from the warnings against serving idols found in the Old Testament to Jesus’ teaching on prayer and trust in God (Matthew 6:9-13). Although Psalm 14:4 highlights the destructive tendencies of the faithless, it also foreshadows the mercy available to those who repent, a concept later fulfilled through Christ’s redemptive work (Romans 5:8).
Set to dark mode
Psalms 14:4 meaning
David, traditionally understood to have written Psalm 14 around 1000 BC, continues his lament against those who disregard God by asking, “Do all the workers of wickedness not know, Who eat up My people as they eat bread, And do not call upon the LORD?” (v.4) Here, David points out the arrogance and cruelty of those who exploit others and fail to seek the Lord. In Israel’s history, turning away from God often led to moral and social decay. The phrase “eat up My people as they eat bread” (v.4) conveys not just physical harm, but a total disregard for the dignity of God’s people. David’s question, “Do…not know” (v.4), underscores the folly of those who believe they can oppress others without consequence, echoing the biblical theme that God is a constant witness to injustice (Psalm 34:15).
This verse reveals that, while wicked people might refuse to acknowledge the Lord, God remains sovereign over all. Their failure to “call upon the LORD” (v.4) suggests a dependence on human means rather than divine guidance. This idea resonates throughout Scripture, from the warnings against serving idols found in the Old Testament to Jesus’ teaching on prayer and trust in God (Matthew 6:9-13). Although Psalm 14:4 highlights the destructive tendencies of the faithless, it also foreshadows the mercy available to those who repent, a concept later fulfilled through Christ’s redemptive work (Romans 5:8).