Knowing The Word in Psalm 14

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

1 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.

Comments

Who is the fool? The fool is the person who is neither ignorant nor atheistic. The fool is the person who denies the intervention of God in human affairs and has no accountability before him. This person may say the right prayer and sing the right hymns, but their actions and treatment of others bear no godly fruit. Yet God is always looking, always with the righteous, and always in the salvation business.

Prayer

Be kind to your little children, Lord. Be a gentle teacher, patient with our weakness and stupidity. And give us the strength and discernment to do what you tell us, and so grow in your likeness.

May we all live in the peace that comes from you. May we journey towards your city, sailing through the waters of sin untouched by the waves, borne serenely along by the Holy Spirit. Night and day may we give you praise and thanks, because you have shown us that all things belong to you, and all blessings are gifts from you. To you, the essence of wisdom, the foundation of truth, be glory for evermore.

Clement of Alexandria, c. 150-215