Psalm 14

 

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’

They are corrupt, they have done abominable

works, there is none who does good.

 

“The Lord looks down from heaven upon

the children of men, to see if there are any

who understand, who seek God. They all have

turned aside, they have together become corrupt;

there is none who does good, no, not one.

 

“Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,

who eat up my people as they eat bread, and

do not call upon the Lord? There they are in

great fear, for God is with the generation of

the righteous. You shame the counsel of the

poor, but the Lord is his refuge.

 

“Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come

out of Zion! When the Lord brings back

the captivity of His people, let Jacob rejoice

and Israel be glad.”

     Psalm 14 (NKJV)

 

The Bible says that those who say there is no God are fools. In this context, “fool” does not mean someone of diminished intellectual ability or a jester, but someone who makes a conscious decision to reject God. It is foolish indeed to say there is no God when all have received the general revelation of God’s existence (see Romans 1:20-21, Psalm 19) and all have experienced the grace of God (see Matthew 5:45). 

 

Not only are they fools, wandering and wallowing in their own moral darkness, but they also attack the righteous, God’s people. And yet the foolishness of these wicked men turns to great fear when He comes against them in judgment and they realize, too late, that they were wrong in not acknowledging God.

 

But the Lord is a constant refuge for His people. And this psalm ends on a joyful note, reminding Israel that God has not forgotten them but will fulfill His promises to them in that glorious day when salvation will come out of Zion for Israel.  In Romans (3:12), Paul quotes this psalm and affirms that not one of us does good. Thus, we all (Jew and Gentile alike) need salvation through Jesus Christ. 

 

Do you have any Jewish friends, neighbors or co-workers? I urge you to pray for them, that their eyes would be opened and their hearts would be softened. And pray for boldness and grace to share this good news with them, that they might come to a saving faith in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ, the Messiah).