Ps. 53: Foolish Evildoers Reset

Psalm 53:5 "There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them."

Remember back on the 5th of March, and I did a commentary on the 14th Psalm? Well, the 53rd Psalm is nearly identical. There are a couple of differences in the text, though. Seemingly minor on the surface, the 53rd Psalm uses "God" for God. The 14th Psalm uses "the LORD." I wonder why that is, and if it has anything to do with the other difference. That being verse 5. In the 14th Psalm, the people were in fear that their sin would overcome them. In the 53rd Psalm, the people feared that their enemies were going to overcome them.

But why were these Psalms so similar? Is it to simple advance the idea that sin is the enemy? Perhaps that falling to foreign armies is a result of sin? Either can lead to dread. 

But maybe it's a matter of rationality. "Overwhelmed with dread, when there was nothing to dread." The enemy is no reason to dread. Unchecked sin, perhaps that is a reason to dread. It is only God that can save from sin. Sure a person can fight off an enemy, but sin is always terminal.