Psalm 14 laments a people who have rejected God––fools who say, "There is no God" (v. 1). It laments the way such people have become corrupt (v. 3) and "eat up (God's) people" (v. 4). It contrasts those evil people with "the poor" who find their refuge in Yahweh (v. 6)––and God's people (v. 7).

"Sing to Yahweh a new song" (v. 1a). What is the significance of a new song? I will suggest some possibilities: To compose a new song requires a welling up of energy within the composer. To compose a new song for singing to Yahweh requires a welling up of faith and devotion. There is something fresh and exciting about new songs. Musical tastes change, so an old song might not speak to a new generation. "for he has done marvelous things!" (v. 1b). The psalmist explains why he is calling people to sing Yahweh a new song. It is because Yahweh has done marvelous things––has accomplished wonder after wonder.

This is one of a number of psalms that include a superscription concerning David. Readers through the centuries have interpreted “A Psalm by David” to mean “A Psalm written by David,” but a number of scholars question that interpretation today. There are a number of reasons for that, including the fact that “several Davidic psalms refer to the ‘temple’ (e.g., 5:7, 27:4; 65:4; 68:29” (Broyles, 28)—but the temple was built by David’s son, Solomon, and was not in existence during David’s lifetime.