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Psalm 53:2
God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.
1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Mahalath.” A contemplation by David. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good.
2God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.
3Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.
4Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God?
Notice
God looks down from heaven for people who understand and seek him, bringing human wisdom under a judgment no person controls.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your view of understanding when God pairs it with seeking him?
Write on thisHow does verse 3's answer shape your response to God's search in verse 2?
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Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Romans 3:11There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.Both texts join understanding with seeking God; Romans states the absence that the psalm's surrounding verses also declare.
Genesis 6:5The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil.Both passages describe God looking at humanity, with the surrounding psalm and Genesis recording what he sees of human evil.
Isaiah 55:6Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.Seeking God is the shared concern: the psalm describes God looking for seekers, and Isaiah commands people to seek him.
2 Chronicles 15:2He went out to meet Asa, and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will …Both passages speak of seeking God; Chronicles adds the promise that those who seek him will find him.
Jeremiah 16:17For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from my face. Their iniquity isn’t concealed from my eyes.God sees human lives in both passages; Jeremiah makes explicit that people's ways and iniquity are hidden from neither his sight nor knowledge.
Psalm 27:8When you said, “Seek my face,” my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, LORD.”Psalm 53 describes God looking for people who seek him; Psalm 27 records a heart's resolve to seek his face.
Psalm 33:13The LORD looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.Both psalms describe God looking from heaven and seeing the whole human family.
Psalm 111:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!Both passages connect understanding with a person's response to God.
Jeremiah 23:24Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I can’t see him?” says the LORD. “Don’t I fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD.Both passages describe God's sight reaching human beings; Jeremiah declares that no secret place can hide anyone from him.
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.”The psalm describes God looking for those who seek him; Chronicles describes a person whose heart is set to seek God.
Job 28:28To man he said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. To depart from evil is understanding.’”The psalm links understanding with seeking God; Job links understanding with departing from evil and wisdom with fearing the Lord.
Where this verse fits
Sermon or Bible study notes. guilt and confession. feeling distant from God.
One step
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Encouragement
Heaven is no barrier to God's sight. His attention reaches the whole human family, and his concern includes whether anyone understands and seeks 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).