Psalm 53 - The Salvation of Israel

Intro:

Good morning.

I have enjoyed studying the Psalms for 3 out of 4 Sunday mornings in the month of May.

We’re wrapping that study up this morning by going to Psalm 53, if you will turn there.

This Psalm is a short Psalm — Just 6 verses.

But the subject matter is of utmost importance.

We’re going to notice some parallels from this Psalm to the book of Romans this morning.

And we’re going to cover the subject “The Salvation of Israel.”

What do we mean by that, by the way?

Are we talking about the nation-state that was refounded in 1948?

No, when we talk about the Salvation of Israel this morning, which is phrased in v. 6, we’re talking about the salvation provided by the GOD of Israel — Yahweh or Jehovah.

The Bible teaches that true Israel today are all those — both Jew and Gentile (Rom. 1:16) — who are saved through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So this sermon this morning is about salvation for all who are in Christ.

Background:

I’m not going to spend a lot of time on the background of this particular Psalm.

This Psalm speaks of the universal need for salvation — This Psalm is a summary of the entire theme of the Bible when you think about it!

I will note that in the scribal note attached to this Psalm, Jewish scribes wrote that this was “a contemplation of David.”

Certainly this is something that we need to contemplate a lot — It is the most important theme we CAN contemplate — Salvation!

Both our need for it.

And the Provider of it — Jesus Christ!

Psalm 53:

Psalm 53:1 NKJV

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none who does good.

There’s a lot to unpack in this first verse:

First, it is incredibly foolish to deny the existence of God.

I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist — Perhaps you have heard of the book with that title?

The point is that both Christianity and atheism take belief in something that isn’t replicated in a lab.

We cannot replicate the creation of the world in a lab — (The world is already created).

… Also, the evolutionary atheist cannot replicate his claims of evolution in a lab either.

But what we can do is look at the evidence, and I believe the evidence is overwhelming that there is a God, He is our creator, and we are accountable to Him — We have faith in Him - Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

The evolutionists have a lot of “evidence,” falsely so called — And they have misconstrued a lot of things to fit there narrative.

The Christian on the other hand can look up and see the night sky and say - Psalm 19:1 - “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”

We can look at numerous examples of scientific foreknowledge in the Bible.

We can look at the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa. 139:14).

And all of this and more points clearly to our Creator.

That’s why the first connection we want to make to the book of Romans this morning is this — Romans 1:19–21 - “Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

Deep down, people must know there has to be a God — But people often do not want to acknowledge Him because that would mean … they are accountable to Him.

Second main thing to unpack in verse 1:

“There is none who does good.”

This is the universal problem for mankind — That 3-letter word “SIN!”

And it’s been the universal and ultimate problem for man ever since the beginning, starting in Genesis chapter 3!

More on this idea in verses 2-3!

Psalm 53:2 NKJV

God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

Psalm 53:3 NKJV

Every one of them has turned aside; They have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one.

Is this to say that there are no people on earth who are considered by God to be righteous?

No.

David who wrote this was a man after God’s own heart.

Noah was a man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6:8) because he had faith in God and obeyed God.

Job was a man who feared God, and eschewed evil.

Abraham believed in God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

So this is not saying that there are no people who qualify to be in a class of people who God will count as righteous on Judgment Day.

But what this IS saying is that there is no person who has ever lived (save Jesus Christ) who can be counted in a class of people who are perfect.

Only Jesus Christ belongs in that class!

Only Jesus was perfect!

He was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin!

But when God looks down and sees the lives of men, He sees imperfect creatures — He sees people who are “by nature (that is, by habitual practice) the children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3).

He looks down and He sees that every person who has ever lived (except Jesus) has turned aside to sin — Has become corrupt — Does not do good!

No, not one!

Second cross reference to Romans:

Look at Romans 3:9-26.

(Read quickly in Bible and comment).

(For verses 13ff - Have sins of your mouth ever been such that you could rightly call your mouth an open tomb? Have you ever lied? Have you ever cursed someone in bitterness? Have you ever shed someone’s blood? Have you ever not feared God like you should? We commit ALL KINDS OF SIN DON’T WE?!)

Psalm 53:4 NKJV

Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people as they eat bread, And do not call upon God?

Do workers of iniquity (sinful people) have no knowledge?

Again, what did we read in Romans 1:20 - Every sinner who has ever lived is without excuse and is accountable to a holy God.

Do workers of iniquity have no knowledge of their sin?

Are they ignorant of God’s moral law?

Probably not!

But either way, it doesn’t matter.

They are accountable to a wholly God.

Ignorance is no excuse.

We are all without excuse — And we must all answer God for our actions.

Think about it this way — If ignorance was an excuse to not be accountable to God, then what would every preacher be doing every time he tells someone about the Gospel?

He would be doing them a disservice wouldn’t he?

Why?

Because the moment he tells them about God, the moment he tells them about Jesus, about the Gospel, is the moment they become accountable … if ignorance is an acceptable excuse to God!

The preacher just told someone what God expects, and now the person has the option to either obey God or not obey God!

Whereas BEFORE (if ignorance is an excuse), then he was good to go!

Of course he’s NOT good to go!

We are ALL accountable to God, we are all without excuse, and that’s why Jesus told us to go preach the Gospel to EVERY creature (Mark 16:15).

And it’s why — 3rd cross reference to Romans — in Romans chapter 10, we read why it’s so important that people preach the Gospel — “How shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? How shall they hear without a preacher?!”

Psalm 53:5 NKJV

There they are in great fear Where no fear was, For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you; You have put them to shame, Because God has despised them.

There WAS no fear of God among the evildoers …

But NOW there is! Because they have now received swift punishment.

There will be perhaps countless millions or billions of people on Judgment Day who never thought twice about mocking God, who never had a reverent thought about God, who never took proper time to worship Him, who doubted Him, and those who even said they believed in Him but their hearts were far from Him — All of these will get to Judgment Day unprepared, and “every knee shall bow!”

No wonder one of the most important verses for use to keep in mind in all of Scripture says: “Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man!” (Ecc. 12:13)

Psalm 53:6 NKJV

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.

David in this Psalm is looking forward to that day when salvation would come out of Zion!

When God would bring back the captivity of His people!

When Israel would rejoice and be glad in their salvation!

And that day came … about 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ the Lamb of God came into the world, died to reclaim and redeem His captives — He was the ransom Redeemer for our sins!

So finally a fourth connection between the book of Romans and this Psalm — Romans 5:8–9 - “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

Conclusion:

Have you taken full advantage of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ today?

Have you found (as it pertains to you) the salvation of Israel?!