Surrounded by Fools
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This morning we are continuing our study in the book of Psalms. We are going to be looking at the Psalm 14. Now, Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 are nearly identical in content and wording.
Now as you might imagine, scholars have come up with a couple of theories as to why the are so much alike.
The simplest explanation for the two occurrences is that the psalm appeared in two different early collections which were later combined into the single book that we have today.
Or maybe God thought we needed to hear it twice!
Everyone is a Fool
Everyone is a Fool
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
A description of a fool
A description of a fool
The fool (Hebrew: nabal means, fool, foolish, stupid, abandoned, wicked, godless, good-for-nothing, senseless, worthless, lacking understanding). The Hebrew word fool was the name of the man who refused to pay for David’s protection—he became the picture of a foolish person (v. 1a).
This kind of person rejects the existence of God altogether! In essence the fool does not take God into account, and lives like there is no supreme power or any power outside of himself. He may or may not be a “true” atheist, and he may or may not be ignorant of God. The key is he lives like there is no God! (v. 1b)
As a result their lives are corrupt (wicked) (v. 1c).
Their deeds are vile (abhorrent, act abominably, detestable, repulsive) (v. 1d).
KEY: When people live without a belief in the authority of God, then they become their own god. Since Genesis 3 tells us that all of humanity is corrupt—and corruption equals wickedness and vile deeds. Romans 1 tells us that people have exchanged the truth for a lie (Rom. 1:25).
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
David’s conclusion is that there really is no one who does good (who is good) (v. 1e).
Honestly, all we have to do today is turn on the news and we will discover that true goodness is hard to be seen! We, too, may conclude that there is no one who really does “good.”
God’s Response
God’s Response
The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
Yahweh looks down from heaven on all of humanity, and He is looking to see if anyone has understanding (does anyone have spiritual insight and spiritual understanding) (v. 2a).
Yahweh is also looking to see if there is anyone who seeks (pursues, chases after) God (elohim) (v. 2b).
The conclusion (found in verse 3) is three fold:
All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
— All have turned away (v. 3a).
— All have become corrupt (v. 3b).
— There is no one who does good (v. 3c).
— Emphasis--not even one person! (v. 3d)
Humanity’s ignorance
Humanity’s ignorance
David is amazed at the ignorance of humanity.
Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord.
Do all the evildoers really know nothing? (Are they really that stupid?) He is amazed that they don’t see anything wrong with what they are doing (v. 4a).
The are so self-consumed that they destroy people (v. 4b). The devour people like they are bread!
And the big key—these people NEVER call on Yahweh (v. 4c)!
Dangerous Ground!
Dangerous Ground!
But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
The wicked are filled with and overwhelmed with dread (v. 5a)!
It is all because God is in their presence (v. 5b)! Interestingly people who don’t believe in God often are the most aggressive against God and His people.
They feel the dread when they are near someone who is “righteous.” Darkness cannot exist in the presence of THE Light. John 8:12, Jesus tells us that He is the light of the world.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Then in Matthew 5:14 we’re told that we are to be the we are also to be a light to the world.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
These wicked people try to frustrate the plans of the poor—the NET Bible translates this: You want to humiliate the oppressed (v. 6a).
They do this even though Yahweh is their refuge--their protector (v. 6b).
Longing for God’s Salvation
Longing for God’s Salvation
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
David says that he longs for Israel’s salvation to come from Zion (Jerusalem)(v. 7a).
To us this statement doesn’t make sense, but Jerusalem was where the tabernacle (and later where the temple) was located. And that meant it was the place where the Ark of the Covenant was—God’s mercy seat was.
So asking for Israel’s salvation to come from Zion is asking for Israel’s salvation to from God Himself.
When Yahweh restores His people--stops letting the wicked gobble up the godly like bread (cf. verse 4).
When that happens all of Israel (both the southern and northern kingdom) will be glad!
So What?
So What?
There are several things that we should take away from this psalm.
Today, there is no question that our world is filled with “fools!” Remember, God defines a “fool” as someone who is godless, wicked, lacking understanding—specifically spiritual understanding, the kind of person that rejects God’s involvement in the world.
Denying God’s rule of humanity produces corrupt lives and vile deeds.
Yet, there are times in this world where the wicked seem like they are going unchecked as they spread their wickedness.
Here’s the KEY—God is still on His thrown!
A day is coming when He will judge the wicked. In Acts 17:30-31 we read about the coming judgment.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
A day is coming when the wicked will know that Jesus Christ is Lord! Philippians 2:9-11 tells us about that day.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And a day is coming for those who are suffering for Jesus now will have their tears dried up. In Revelation 21:4 we read of that day.
‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Until that day, we should not be surprised that the world hates us. Jesus, the night He was betrayed told His disciples,
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
And John reminds us in 1 John 3:13 not to be surprised if we are hated by the world!
Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
So then, we should not be surprised that the world hates the name of Jesus.
We should not be surprised that the world hates godliness.
We should not be surprised that the world calls good evil and evil good.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
The key for us is that God is still on His throne. The great American evangelist of the 19th century, D.L. Moody, talked about God being on His throne. He said,
God has two thrones, one in the highest heavens, the other in the lowliest heart.
From the throne in heaven God rules the world He made.
From the throne in the lowliest of hearts He rules my life and yours!
Will you allow Him to rule your heart?
