Псалом 14

This psalm, similar in content to XXIII, was written on the occasion of David's transfer of the Icon of the Covenant from the house of Abeddar to the newly built tabernacle in Zion. The incident with Uzzah, who irreverently touched this great shrine, was the reason that the Ark of the Covenant was temporarily placed in the house of Abeddar and filled David with deep grief: he thought that the Lord did not favor him. When mercy from the Lord began to pour out on the house of Abeddar, David saw that the Lord was returning His favor to him. This filled David with a sense of reverent exultation, which was expressed in the composition of this hymn - the vow. Who can dwell near the house of the Lord? He who is pure in thoughts and deeds (1–2), who does not harm his neighbor by word or deed (3–5). Ps.14:1. God! who can dwell in Your habitation? who can dwell on Your holy mountain? The “dwelling place” of God is the tabernacle; “holy mountain” – Mount Zion. Ps.14:2. He who walks uprightly and does righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart; “Walk blamelessly and do righteousness” means purity of actions and their agreement with the law of God; “speaking the truth in your heart” means being impeccable in your thoughts and desires, not only in external affairs. Ps.14:3. who does not slander with his tongue, does not do evil to his sincere and does not accept reproach against his neighbor; Ps.14:4. he in whose eyes the outcast is despised, but who glorifies those who fear the Lord; who swears, even to an evil person, and does not change; Ps.14:5. who does not give his silver at interest and does not accept gifts against the innocent. He who does this will never be shaken. The properties of the righteous are determined from the negative side. He is righteous who, neither by word nor deed, causes harm to his neighbor, nor listens to slander from others against the latter; righteous is he who despises the “outcast.” The latter is contrasted with “those who fear the Lord,” that is, His reverent admirers, therefore, by rejected we mean a blasphemer who does not recognize and does not honor God. Contempt for him does not legitimize cruel treatment or persecution of the person of the outcast, but disdain for the ideological, spiritual side of his life. The righteous “swears, even to the evil, and does not betray.” Evil - wicked. An oath is always given by invoking the name of the Lord and, as such, it cannot be directed towards anything morally bad and unclean. Such an oath obliges the swearer to do only good, and therefore, even if it was given to an evil person, a wicked one, it requires fulfillment and does not constitute an offense before God, since it does not involve sympathy and assistance to the wicked in his wickedness. “Give me the silver... in usury" - usury, which was strictly prohibited by the law of Moses (Ex. 22:24; Lev. 25:36). “Accepting gifts against the innocent” - taking bribes in court. – “Whoever does this will never be shaken” – will enjoy the unshakable, constant favor of God. The indication is general; it can mean both the blessings of external life, earthly, and eternal intimacy with God, that is, heavenly life. You might be interested in: