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Psalm 14:2
The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.
1For the Chief Musician. By David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.
2The LORD looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.
3They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
4Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on the LORD?
Notice
YHWH’s search for anyone who understands and seeks him puts human claims to wisdom under the gaze of God.
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Where else Scripture says this
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Isaiah 55:6Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.Both passages speak of seeking the LORD: the psalm describes his search for seekers, while Isaiah urges people to seek him.
Jeremiah 10:14Every man has become brutish and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no …Both passages examine human understanding before God; Jeremiah exposes the lack of knowledge shown in making lifeless idols.
Romans 3:11There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.Romans states the bleak answer to the psalm’s search: no one understands or seeks after God.
Psalm 33:13–14The LORD looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.Both passages picture the LORD looking from heaven and seeing the whole human family.
Hebrews 11:6Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.Both passages speak of people seeking God; Hebrews adds that approaching him requires faith and that he rewards seekers.
Psalm 102:19–20for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, the LORD saw the earth,Both passages describe the LORD looking down from heaven toward the earth below.
Amos 5:4For the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me, and you will live;Seeking God is central to both passages; Amos records God’s command to seek him and his promise of life.
Genesis 6:12God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.Both portray God looking upon humanity, with corruption exposed in Genesis and in the psalm’s surrounding lines.
Jeremiah 8:6Both portray God attending to human responses, with the psalm seeking understanding and Jeremiah describing people who refuse repentance.
Matthew 13:15for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their …Both passages connect understanding with a person’s response to God, whether seeking him or turning back to him.
Daniel 12:10Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined, but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who …Understanding is a concern in both passages; Daniel distinguishes the wise who understand from the wicked who do not.
2 Chronicles 19:3Nevertheless there are good things found in you, in that you have put away the Asheroth out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.”Both passages speak of seeking God; Chronicles describes a person whose heart is set on that pursuit.
Where this verse fits
Sermon or Bible study notes. feeling distant from God.
One step
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Encouragement
God’s view of humanity reaches you too. This is a sober place to begin reflection: YHWH looks for understanding and for those who seek him.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).