Psalm 14: The Fool Says, There Is No God: Praying through the Psalms

Psalm 14: The Fool Says, There Is No God

Poetry often springs from strong emotions, love and anger, longing and defeat, laments and cries for help; with the right words, an author can stir the readers' emotions. It’s easy to be moved by poetry that puts words to our emotions when we ourselves cannot seem to express them.

The Psalms are filled with emotion, and while many start in lament, most end in praising God. When we feel as though God isn’t answering us, we need to remember that God’s timing is perfect and He always hears the prayers of His children. It’s quite possible the answer to your prayer is “not yet” or “no”. Regardless of the answer, we need to trust in God’s unfailing love for His people. He will do what’s best for His children, whether we understand it or not.

Many of us feel the need to “talk out” our problems. It helps us to organize our thoughts and release some of the emotions we’re holding on to. As Christians, we have the perfect friend and counsellor. God wants us to talk to Him regularly and openly. He wants us to bring all our problems, fears, and thoughts to Him in prayer. Bringing our problems and laments to God is important; through prayer we can talk our struggles out with Him, and He will help us gain the right perspective, give us peace of mind, and draw us closer to Him. Believing in God and seeking to live as He requires is more than just a step of faith; it is wisdom in action.

The author calls the ungodly around him fools. An insult rarely used today, yet an apt description for many. When the Bible speaks of fools, it doesn’t mean someone who is stupid or uneducated, as many might think. A fool is someone who rejects God, and thus is corrupt and evil. God gave us both the moral laws and the spiritual laws; the Bible teaches us that to deny He exists is to allow immorality and evil.

Psalm 14 laments the abuse and cruelty that God’s people were experiencing at the hands of the ungodly. The world around God’s people was filled with unbelievers who did not seek God or His will; they were corrupt and could do no good. Psalm 14 shows how foolish those people are and how God sees their foolishness. He gives true wisdom to those who fear Him and seek Him. The Bible promises that if we ask God for wisdom, He will grant it. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” One cannot be wise while rejecting the source of all wisdom. To be wise, one must not only believe in God’s existence, but also strive to live as He requires. James 2:19-20 tells us, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?”

A fool is, therefore, not only one who denies God’s existence, but also someone who believes God exists but does not fear and worship Him. We must strive to live our lives in accordance with the wisdom God has given us in His word.

So do not be a fool. Believe in God and strive to live as His Holy Law demands. Knowing He exists isn't enough; even the devil knows that. Turn to Proverbs 2 and see how to attain the wisdom that God has promised, and “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15). “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). Seek God, seek wisdom, and recognize that those who are unbelieving and unrepentant are foolish. Bring all your praise and your laments to the One who grants all wisdom. Oh, what a friend we have in Jesus!

Praying Through the Psalms:
Gracious God and Holy Father, I come before You to praise You for You are righteous and faithful, and in You alone do I find my refuge. You are the refuge and strength for all Your people, and Your will for us is good. May Your will be done, and may Your kingdom come, that the wickedness, evil and injustices in this world may come to an end. Please grant me all I need this day, and sustain me by Your gracious hand. My thoughts and deeds are sinful, O LORD; may You graciously forgive me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Left on my own, I would surely fail to seek You as I ought to. Fill my heart and mind with love and delight for You and make me earnestly seek to live in accordance with Your will and expectations. I humbly ask that You deliver all Your people from evil, defend the helpless, and give strength to endure the trials of this life. May the day of Your people's restoration come quickly. Though I am not worthy, I ask all this through the salvation You have given in Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen

 

Psalm 14: The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.

 

2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

 

3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

 

4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?

 

5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.

6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.

 

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.