PSALM 14 Written by David, but no one is quite sure when. David has seen the depth of human depravity and the impiety and neglect of God.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
3 All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
4 Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the Lord.
5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.
6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, yet the LORD is their shelter.
7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!
SECTIONS:
- Dirges on Depravity (how widespread it is and how futile it is)
- Wish for Deliverance
THEME: Atheism and depravity of the human race in general
QUESTIONS:
What does David call a person who says “There is no God.” Why do you think he uses that word?
Why does God look down from heaven and what does he see?
Are you surprised to see there is not even one person who is considered to be “good?’
So how would you answer someone who says nonbelievers who are “good” (like Ghandi) will all go to heaven regardless of whether they believe in God.
What word does David use to describe God to the oppressed? Do you see God that way?
ADDITONAL VERSES
Ephesian 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Genesis 6:5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?
1 John 1:8-9 8 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.…”
Galatians 6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Jeremiah 2:35 you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ But I will certainly judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
1 Corinthians 3:18 -Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1 Kings 8:46 When they sin against You–for there is no one who does not sin–and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,
Hebrew 11:6 Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Bible-studys.org
We’ve only to look around at all of God’s creation and know there is a God. The fact that a planet rotates in the atmosphere and doesn’t fall, shows that there’s order in the universe. To those who don’t believe in God I ask “Have you created any worlds lately?” An intelligence far above our comprehension created everything and everyone in our world. I can dig a hole in the ground and plant a seed, water it, and watch it grow. But if God didn’t provide the earth, seed, and water, then I couldn’t grow a plant. I’m not even in control of the next breath I take. When God gets ready for me to stop breathing, I will. How foolish to say there is no God. We’ve all sinned and fallen short. If we say we haven’t sinned, we’re a liar. Our only hope is Jesus.
Truly our generation could be classified as one of the the evilest. Movies are so filthy they wouldn’t have been allowed some years ago yet are shown on TV for our kids to see. Drugs and alcohol are rampant. Little children, neglected by parents, are seeking love in gangs.
APPLICATION: Christians must take a stand for God. We’re in a war. Who will stand for biblical principles even in the face of ridicule or death? Will God say of our generation, where is even one who truly loves Me? But God has promised to be a “refuge” for the “righteous, a secure place for the godly when evil presses in. The godless desire to absorb Christians into their way of life (eat them). But as Christians, we are to be separated and not caught up in the things of this world.
Barnes commentary: David looked around and saw such unkindness. The wicked call out imperfections in others but don’t see it in themselves. And they reject religion because if there is no God to answer to they are free to do whatever they want. The poor and oppressed could turn to God for comfort and strength, but the wicked wanted to destroy their faith in God, saying “There is no God!”
David calls the godless “fools” because turning from God is folly. Depravity is universal because all have fallen into sin. Romans 3:10-11 says, “What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.…” And 1 John 1:8 says “ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
A perfect God looks upon man and sees our sins. We are born unto Adam and have inherited sin which can only be made right by the righteousness of Jesus. None of us could stand before a holy God and be pronounced righteous without Jesus. There is none that does good, no, not one. Men have the chance to find out about God and turn to him, but they don’t choose to because they love their sin. They refuse to acknowledge their maker or honor him.
APPLICATION: The godless deride and hold in contempt those who believe in God. They like to find imperfections in Christians and say they are inconsistent.They argue that a religion which produces no better fruits than what is seen in the lives of their Christian friends must be of no value. It can’t be genuine. If a professed Christian produces no happier or better results in their lives, what’s the advantage of worshiping God? Or else they see themselves as just as good as those who say they are religious. So they conclude religion has no value. That’s why, as Christians, we should strive to follow Jesus’ example of love. The fruits of the spirit should be evident in our lives.
Blueletterbible.org
David considers the result of denying God. It leads to corruption and wickedness. This isn’t to say that every atheist lives a dissolute life and every Christian lives a good life. But there is a marked difference in moral behavior between those who take God seriously and those who don’t. Yet, it’s possible for us to say there is a God, and still deny it in our heart and life. We may believe in God in theory, yet be a practical atheist in the way we choose to live.
David looked at humanity and concluded that there is none who does good. He didn’t mean that there is no human good in this world, but that fallen man is so fallen that he doesn’t instinctly do good. We are born with both the will and the capacity to do evil. No one has to teach a child to do bad things. The path of least resistance usually leads us to bad, not good. It’s often easier to encourage others to do bad, instead of good. And many of our good deeds are tinged with selfish, bad motives.
Explainingthebook.com
You’ll find atheists in all sorts of prestigious positions. They’re in academia and often in legislatures. I read an article celebrating the fact that more congressmen are admitting they are atheists, like it’s something to be proud of. It’s not a stigma anymore. People who says there is no God are the ones who are starring in everyone’s favorite movies and TV shows. They are the rich and famous. They’re the beautiful people of our society.
But what does David call them? Only a fool will believe for a moment that there is no deity. We’re not talking about stupid people. They can solve math problems, speak eloquently, engineer buildings. Their foolishness isn’t reflected in their intellect.. It resides in their morals. They see creation all around them, and they just won’t admit there must be a powerful being who made all of this.
What we believe affects our actions. David says they’re corrupt and spoiled. Not in the sense of being spoiled like a little child who always gets his way, but spoiled like rotten fruit. I’m sure some atheists do good. They work and support their families. But the good has do with what God sees as “good.” Notice the universality of these statements. “All” “None”. “No, not one”. Surely there’s one among the sons of Adam that seeks God. Nope. Surely there’s one that does good. A holy God doesn’t think so.
Quotes from Ravi Zacharias about atheism and our culture
“I am convinced that all our attempts to change the letter of the law and to reeducate people have been, and are, merely band-aid solutions for a fatal hemorrhage. The system will never change because our starting point is flawed. The secular view of man can neither give the grandeur that God alone can give, nor can it see the evil within the human heart that God alone can reveal and cure, for atheism implicitly denudes each individual of the grand image God has imprinted upon His creation.”
“I am thoroughly convinced that when the last chapter of humanity is written, we will find that the implications of atheism, i.e., living without God, if consistently carried through, will have made life plainly unlivable within the limits of reason or even common sense.”
The atheist is quick to excoriate all religious belief by laying the blame at the door of all who claim to be religious without distinction. By the same measure, why is there not an equal enthusiam to distrbute blame for violence engendered by some of the irreligious.
These days its not just that the line between right and wrong has beeen made unclear, today Christians are being asked by our culture to erase the lines and move fences, and if that were not bad enough, we are being asked to join the celebration by those who have thrown off the restraints religion has imposed on them. It is not just that they ask we accept, but they now demand us to celebrate it too.
In a post-modern cultrue we need an apologetic that is felt and seen because if post-moderns are not feeling it, they are not belieivng it.
My reflection on Psalm 14
I like the term“fool” that David uses to call people who refuse to believe in God. It is very fool-hearted to not only turn away from God but encourage others to do so too! People are playing with fire—the eternal kind. But in a way, I was the same way. I had doubts about Jesus’ divinity at one time even though I was raised a Christian. Who am I to cast the first stone? Sometimes I’m so impatient with people who don’t believe. I want to shout, “Don’t you get it? Don’t you see who your are railing against?”
But then I think how Jesus said many are “called” but few are chosen. God sends out loving invitations to his wedding banquet, like told in the parable in Matthew 22. But many who God invited to the wedding feast turned down the invitation to come. They didn’t want to be bothered, they were busy doing something else or they didn’t care. They refused to attend. And this invitation was extended to everyone in all walks of life. Rich or poor. It didn’t matter. They were invited to the feast! God is so gracious to still extend this invitation to everyone today, and yet there are those who choose not to accept it. Some even revile the gracious sender of the invitation.
But I choose to hope because I’ve read numerous stories of how God is appearing in dreams all over the world, especially to the muslim people. I’ve read personal testimonies online of how Jesus is revealing himself to people in dreams because many muslims don’t have the opportunity to hear the gospel message. And, just like the people of Ninevah, to whom Jonah preached, they are turning to Jesus. This means risking their lives because of persecution. Would I go that far? Would I risk my life to stand up for Jesus? Even now Christians are being persecuted for their faith, and losing their businesses because of their beliefs in the truth that Jesus teaches. I know I’m very weak. The first sign of torture I’d probably cave. I know myself. I’m not like Peter who boldly said he’d die for Jesus. I can’t say that. But I do know my Lord!! I’ve prayed that if it ever comes to that point in our country where we risk death because of our faith that Jesus would hold me up for the sake of his glory and his name. And I know just as he held up his apostles, David, Moses and Daniel, he would come through for me because I trust him to honor his name.
SONG: How Great Is Our God, All Hail the Power of Jesus name, Holy God We Praise Thy Name, Faith of Our Fathers