Foolish or Righteous?
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Introduction - Portraits
Introduction - Portraits
Portraits are helpful, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Menu items without a picture I do not order, I like to have an idea of what it is I am getting. Portraits reveal details and allow evaluation, examination and comparison also. Well tonight we are covering two Psalms - 14 and 15 and they both provide a portrait - two portraits actually created by less than a thousand words - one of a fool and the other of a righteous person. As we look at these portraits understand that the purpose of David and God speaking through David tonight is not so much so we can identify these people around us - but so that we can identify which of these portraits we are more in comparison with.
1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God.
3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one. 4 Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the Lord.
5 Then they will be filled with dread, for God is with those who are righteous. 6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord is his refuge. 7 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
1 Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? 2 The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart— 3 who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,
4 who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost, 5 who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent— the one who does these things will never be shaken.
What the Fool Says of God
What the Fool Says of God
Psalm 14:1 (CSB)
1 The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.” They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.
The fool (nabal - a person who lacks good judgment) says in his heart, which the heart in scripture often times is the place where the center of self - the seat of all decision and volition is, “there is no God”. Literally in the original language the phrase is No God which is either saying there is no God or flatly saying “no” to God. The meaning behind the word nabal from which the word fool comes from is not an intellectual fool but a moral fool. David does not bring into light those who are not smart enough to figure God out ( no one could), instead David has in frame those who simply reject God. A fool is a fool for rejecting not God’s existence but His rule in their life. The fool says no God for me.
The fact that the fool says this in his heart indicates that it is likely the fool intellectually knows there is a God, but yet denies or rejects it in his heart and life. One may believe in God in theory, yet be a practical atheist in the way they live. David Guzik. The first step of a fool or someone in becoming a fool is to deny God. The fool denies their own responsibility or accountability to Him and denies His rule over themselves. He does not want their to be a God and not want God to reign over him so he can live how he wants and desires.
Denying God does not erase God from the universe or remove Him from His sovereign throne. Instead the desire to think they can do this is what leads to them standing as fools.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools
Henry Bosch has pointed out the following instances of God’s careful and marvelous design:
The earth rotates on its axis at approximately 1,000 miles per hour. If it was just 100 miles per hour our days and nights would be ten times longer and our planet would alternately burn and freeze. Under those circumstances vegetation would not live.
If the earth were as small as the moon, the power of gravity would be too weak to retain sufficient atmosphere for man’s needs; but if it were as large as Jupiter, Saturn or Uranus, extreme gravitation would make human movement impossible. If we were as near to the sun as Venus the heat would be unbearable; if we were as far away as Mars we would experience snow and ice every night even in the warmest regions.
If the oceans were half their present dimensions, we would receive only one-fourth the rainfall we do now. If they were only 1/8 larger our annual precipitation would increase four fold and the earth would become a vast uninhabitable swamp.
Water solidifies at 32F. It would be disastrous if the oceans froze at that temperature, however, for then the amount of thawing in the polar regions would not balance out and ice would accumulate throughout the centuries. To prevent such a catastrophe - the Lord saw fit to put salt into it to alter its freezing point.
To assert all this happened by chance is intellectually dishonest - not even enough chance would make it possible. Scripture says that those who deny God and reject God are fools - not intellectual fools but moral fools. It is not a question of intelligence but of morality.
They are corrupt and do vile deeds, there is no one who does good. What a man believes determines how a man will act and behave. The fool is corrupted and free to be vile in mind and heart leading to actions of the same. As a practical atheist he is separated from the wisdom revealed in God’s word. Corrupting and spoiling all he does.
Hebrew like English has quite a few words for describing those who are unwise. They correspond to words like simple, silly, simpleton, fool and madman. The word used as I said before is nabal which embraces foolishness but also an aggressively perverse personality. Folly and foolishness expressing itself through evil acts.
There was a man named Nabal - Whom David knew 1 Samuel 25:25 “25 My lord should pay no attention to this worthless fool Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means ‘stupid,’ and stupidity is all he knows. I, your servant, didn’t see my lord’s young men whom you sent.”
Denial of God’s reign in one’s life will bear the proper fruit in rotten and corrupt conduct
What God Says of the Fool
What God Says of the Fool
Psalm 14:1–3 (CSB)
There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, one who seeks God. 3 All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.
There is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the human race. Though man may desire to forget and ignore God, God never turns away or forgets about man. God is always observing man and looking upon the children of men.
2 Chronicles 16:9 (CSB)
9 For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. You have been foolish in this matter.
13 The Lord looks down from heaven; he observes everyone. 14 He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from his dwelling place. 15 He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works.
We remember the Lord is constantly watching and observing man as we consider the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 and Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18:21. The Lord is looking for any who would be wise (opposite of a fool). The Lord desires those who would have understanding by seeking God.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.
10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
In denying and refusing to fear God to acknowledge God’s seat on the throne, the fools have all turned away and have all alike become corrupt. Here comes the twist and the part where we need to look closely at this portrait. All have turned away and all have become corrupt. There is no one who does good - not even one. By nature and practice man is a sinner and a fool and if left to himself would never seek after God. Paul will quote from this Psalm to universally condemn all men to sin in Romans.
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
All who say there is no God or live as if to say no to God
The Fool’s Way
The Fool’s Way
4 Will evildoers never understand? They consume my people as they consume bread; they do not call on the Lord. 5 Then they will be filled with dread, for God is with those who are righteous. 6 You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, but the Lord is his refuge.
Will evildoers never understand? They consume and destroy my people (God people) as they consume bread and with the same ease of conscience. They do not call on the Lord, but they will be filled with dread on that day for God is with those who are righteous. By attacking the people of God they are attacking God, He is present in the midst of His people.
They way of the fool is one in which they are opposing God and actively attacking Him and His people. They are not right with God and they are not pleasing to the Lord.
They may frustrate the plans of people, the plans of those whom they oppress but they do not frustrate the Lord’s plans and especially His plans to rescue and save His people and be a refuge for them.
Deliverance
Deliverance
7 Oh, that Israel’s deliverance would come from Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
David is now looking forward to the coming deliverance that will come from Zion (Jerusalem) Calling for God people to be joyous as they consider it.
It is not possible for us to get to the place of quiet trust and confidence by ourselves. If we rightly read this Psalm what we come to conclude is that we are of the same position of those who cry out No God! Unless God has made Himself and His ways known to us. How does He do this? It is through Jesus Christ that God has revealed Himself and made deliverance possible for us.
16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.
1 Cor 1 Paul talks about wisdom contrasting God true wisdom with the supposed wisdom of the world. The world regards the Gospel as foolishness but the Gospel allows those who are foolish for not knowing or seeking God to know God through Christ Jesus.
30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption
The Righteous Way
The Righteous Way
1 Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? 2 The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—
In this Psalm David asks then who can dwell in the Lord’s tent and who can live on your holy mountain. The word translated dwell is better put as sojourn as its sense is of a visit in which the visitor would be receiving the hospitality of the host. In the gracious hospitality of the ancient world a guest was sheltered from all harm; his person was inviolable and all his wants were to be met.
To abide in the tent of the Lord is to abide in the tabernacle. To dwell in the tabernacle is to dwell and live in the presence of God. David is asking who can live in Your presence and settle on your holy mountain. God who will dwell with you and who will you dwell with?
Who can draw near to God and worship Him and fellowship with Him? David has in mind the life that lives before the presence of God, and walks in close fellowship because the heart, mind, and life are all in line with the heart mind and life of God.
Who could fit this bill - it is the one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness and acknowledges the truth in his heart. The one who lives (walks and behaves) blamelessly (free from guilt) practices (carries out and does) righteousness, and acknowledges (speaking out and upholding) the truth in his heart. This is one who does not deny God to live as he wishes doing corrupt and vile things.
His lifestyle is blameless, his actions are blameless as he lives in obedience to God maintaining a life of integrity. In step and line with the righteousness of God’s standards acknowledging truth.
The wicked and hypocritical do not belong and have no place in the sanctuary, the place of the righteous is in the very tent of God.
Righteous Speech
Righteous Speech
3 who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor,
Who does not slander (attack a good name and reptutation) with his tongue. He does not harm (performs no evil against) his friend. Or discredits his neighbor. The upright and righteous life is known by the fruits of the inward reality of a person.
18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.
36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Righteous Conduct
Righteous Conduct
4 who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost, 5 who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent— the one who does these things will never be shaken.
Despises the one rejected by the Lord and honoring those who fear the Lord. Keeps his word whatever the cost. It doesnt matter to this one about anything else but what God says. If God has rejected then this one too rejects, and if they fear the Lord they are honored.
Righteous conduct is kept by the one who keeps his word at whatever the cost. This can be read two ways - keeps his own word as a matter of integrity and honor with himself. His word is his bond even if it comes at great cost to self. Two keeps God’s word no matter the cost to self.
This one is totally dependant upon keeping God’s word and not living according to anything but God’s word. God’s outlines his life and choices.
Does not seek to exploit others or pervert justice by taking a bribe.
The one who does these things will never be shaken (never be caused to lose resolve or waver in their stance. The one who establishes their self in God’s statutes and standards will remain firmly grounded and immovable. The righteous not only enjoys fellowship in the Lord’s presence but will also be a recipient of divine blessing and security. The idea behind never being moved is that this person shall be a guest in the tent of God forever.
4 I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
17 And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.
Conclusion
Conclusion