Psalms Chapter 14 #wickedness #atheism #foolishness #trust #deliverance #Zion (Unless otherwise cited the scriptural references in these devotionals are from the King James Version of the Bible found on http://www.Biblegateway.com – Public Domain edition.)
Context: There is no God!
(Unless otherwise cited all scripture in this devotional is from the King James Version. I use this version because many people prefer to study from this specific version.)
David is appalled at the inclination that persons of his day had with regards to the existence of God. This psalm is a prayer of lament about the ongoing presence of godless people in the land. The wisdom vocabulary of “fool” that was so prevalent in the book of Proverbs begins Psalm 14. Cayce declares “The Hebrew word rendered “fool” in the Old Testament denotes one who is morally deficient ( Deut. 32:5-6; Prov. 17:20-21).” This Psalm follows the pattern of other laments that end with confidence and continued praise of God. Some theologians consider this Psalm to be the Psalm for atheists.
David uses the term “nabal” when he speaks of a fool. 1 Samuel 25:3 (EXB) gives the meaning of the word “His name was Nabal meaning “Fool” in Hebrew], and he was a descendant of Caleb. Paul wrote about a similar situation in the book of Romans. Romans 3:10-12 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” See Isaiah 59:7– 8;Ps. 53:1– 3; Eccl. 7:20;Psalms 5:9;140:3; 10:7. Can you imagine David’s feelings? Can you relate to this verse? Is there an event that you have witnessed that leads you to feel that we are at a point in human history where moral decay and the absence of God in our dealings with each other is more prevalent today than at any other time in recent history? “there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” This statement may seem to be hyperbolic in nature because David himself loves God and is considered righteous. His counselors and the prophet who supported him were righteous. However, the majority of the people surrounding him were not. It was depressing to him. It probably terrified him. Why? He knew that God hated evil. David also knew that evil did not exist because the people didn’t know any better. Look at verse 4!
4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. 5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
David cries out against the moral bankruptcy of the nation. As Christians today look at the corruption and fluidity of sin all over the kingdom. The people are devoured by immoral actions and immoral people who will not call upon the Lord. They cannot call upon Him because they deny his authority over their lives. This was like Noah and the ark all over again. Gen 6: 9-13 “This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence.
God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on the had corrupted their ways.” God picked Noah because he was a righteous man. Today we see children, the poor, the socially neglected begin set upon by powerful men and women. It is as if they have forgotten that God exists. Although, God promised us that He would never send a flood again the Book of Revelation speaks of a time when humanity will experience His punishment for the choices that it has made. See chapter 8.
5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.
David knew that the fear and dread of the Lord was no small thing. He could make kings shake in fear. 2 Kings 7:6-7 “For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.” Evil men should shudder when they go up against the children of God. Why? “for God is in the generation of the righteous.”
6 Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.
Once again one is reminded to consider the poor. It takes utter ignorance to oppress the poor. If no one stands in the gap for the poor, then immoral people will not know that God is their refuge. Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.” Hebrews 6:18 “That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”
7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
The psalmist identifies that the land is being ruled by “wickedness” and that God’s people are being oppressed by “fools” who have denied the existence of God. But he ends the Psalm with hope, trust, and confidence in God. The “salvation of Israel” or the rescuer of Israel. Where would this rescue come from? “ out of Zion” and by whom? “the LORD” will rescue His children from the bondage of wickedness and sin. Then they will celebrate and rejoice in the deliverance of His people. This last stanza of the Psalm reminds us that no one is righteous by and of themselves. They cannot deliver themselves from the bondage of sin. Only the blood of Jesus can do that. We may trust in our knowledge, our wealth, our know-how, our arms, or our social standing, but it is all meaningless when compared with the righteousness of the deliverer – Jesus Christ. In these latter days will Jesus find us faithful?
You Are Not the Only One 