#Don’tBeAFool
- Psalm 53 uses the generic term for God ( ’ĕlōhîm ), instead of ‘Lord’ (Yahweh.
- The second difference is found in verse 5.
The psalm begins with a statement that only a “fool’ would make. Why do I say that? It mirrors the sentiments referenced in Psalms 14. To clarify the meaning of this word let’s look at the Hebrew words used for “fool.”‘ny’ Hebrew words for fool. In this instance the psalmist is speaking of nābāl (read his story here). Fox describes, ‘a nābāl as a ‘species of fool, base and worthless and an object of scorn. He is never merely stupid, but . . . morally deficient’ (Fox 2000, 627). As we look at leaders today can you personally identify any that fit this description? How do you deal with them? In the same manner that Abigail dealt with Naba.The second Hebrew meaning for fool indicates that the primary characteristic of fools is that they deny God.
- Right here, I would like to say that we do not always deny God just with our mouths. We do it every day with our actions.
- When our actions depict an attitude that is contrary to the Word and will of God, we are saying that God does not exist.
- When we choose to deny Him we are saying that God does not exist.
- When He is not the number 1 priority of our daily existence we are in effect saying that He does not exist.
Stating that a fool is just an atheist is not the point of this Scripture. Proverbs 1:7 declares, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.’ The opposite of this statement would be that the rejection of God leaves the person “knowledgeless” and morally irreprehensible.