Concerning Practical Atheism
Psalm 14 - One Who Denies God
"In all unbelief there are two things:
1. a good opinion of one's self and
2. a bad opinion of God." Horatio Bonar
To the choir director -- to be sung collectively.
This is not a song of praise, but a song of admonishing. Not all songs are happy and joyful and how great and wonderful everything is. We need to be honest about our walk. Christians shouldn't just share the positives and keep the struggles secret. This psalm is about what David is thinking.
Paul says, in Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
Verse 1 Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!
Fool -- nabal -- has the significance of fading, dying, or falling away, as a withered leaf or flower.
They say in their hearts (they think), no god, no god for me. No Eloihim.
Psalm 1:3 Believers are like trees planted by the riverbank... Their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do.
Hebrews 11:6 It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must:
1. believe there is a God (if you don't believe there is a God, you are a fool.)
2. and that he rewards those who sincerely seek Him (a fool gets no rewards - only a summons to appear before Him).
They don't believe in Elohim, the Ruler, the Lawgiver, the Savior -- no God.
The fool says there is no God.
They are corrupt.
Their actions are evil.
No one does good.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Man stands before God for what he thinks! He is a fool in his thinking.
They are corrupt -- same word used in Genesis 6 to describe the people in Noah's day. God's judgment was the flood.
This introduction of no God is so deplorable that it is preached in Psalm 53 almost word for word and Paul repeats it in Romans 3:10-12.
It is not said of a person, this man or that one, but for all those who say, "No God."
How does the fool act? Psalm 14:1 says:
They are corrupt.
They do no good.
Verse 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; He looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
The Lord searches to see if there is anyone who is seeking Truth -- Is there a God?
God is looking intently, as in Sodom and Gomorrah - He looked for any who believed in Him. He found only Lot and his family. He won't destroy those who trust in Him. He doesn't judge the righteous with the fools (unrighteous).
Verse 3 But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!
In His search He sees that all have turned away from God. All are corrupt.
The verdict -- They have all sinned.
Three negatives - none, no, not one.
Nahum 1:14 ungodly are vile
Matthew 7:6 swine
Psalm 119:119 dross and refuse
Verse 4 Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn't think of praying to the Lord.
Hatred of God's way produces
corruptness
devouring of God's people (as eagles prey on smaller animals and wolves devour sheep)
Will they never learn? The ungodly devour the righteous.
The evil don't fear sin because they have no knowledge of sin.
Can you imagine them devouring God's children if they accepted the Truth of His wrath? They haven't learned.
They don't pray -- wouldn't think of it.
John 15:19 "Because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you."
Verse 5 Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey Him.
Terror will grip the fools. Look at Haman; he trembled when he saw Mordecai.
God in/with man brings terror to the soul of a fool. For God is with and will protect His people.
When sin collides with the holiness of God in His people, it causes terror.
Verse 6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord will protect His people.
The fool/wicked may frustrate, "puff" at you, taunt you. BUT Your Lord will protect you.
The reason they taunt/frustrate you is because of your God, or your worship of or belief in God.
Psalm 41:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
Jesus is your hiding place. Faye says, "To have a hiding place and not use it, is as bad as not having one!
Verse 7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When the Lord restores His people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.
God is there to protect us. He tells us to stay under His wings and He will protect us.
People are out there to devour us, to devour our churches, and to devour our testimonies.
We need to trust God. We have the mind of Christ in us. He will protect us and empower us to overcome our enemies.
We have got to trust in the promises of God.
Show 'em God. My Dad's coming. I know Him.
He said He would come. I can trust Him.
He's my Dad.
You'll see. There is a God!
Yippee!!!!!!! Faye Pind
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