1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. Comment: Firstly an assessment ‘They are corrupt’ – is it David’s or God’s assessment? This is followed by a judgement, which we as humans would on the whole argue with, when/if we say ‘There are some truly good people even good atheists!’ God says ‘There is none righteous, not even one!’
2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. – ‘to see’? – God asking a question seeking an answer.
3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Comment: An answer which many (most) don’t like! God’s assessment ‘Every person is a fallen creature’!
4 Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?
5 There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! (guilty with no real inner peace). For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. (Judgement foreseen.)
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. (Is this looking forward to the ‘Cross Event’ which occurred in Jerusalem/Zion?) Who are the people whom this Psalm indicates that God will restore? is it only the Jews or all who turn to God’s indicated answer who become His people?
Comment: What does the word ‘fool’ mean to you? Obviously in English in the Bible the word ‘fool’ means a variety of things. Consider the various phrases, which follow, surely the word ‘fool’ must have different meanings. a) ‘the fool has said in his heart “there is no God“, b) ‘we are fools for Christ’s sake’; c) ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe’; d) ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you’. The above passage for today is in the Psalms where the Hebrew word is ‘nabal’ with the meaning ‘someone who is morally degenerate, lacks spiritual understanding, and lives independently of God’s authority’ In Proverbs the usual words are ‘kesil’ or ‘ewil’ which mean ‘dullard’, ‘stupid’, ‘foolish’, ‘simple’. Are we then all fools of one variety or the other? Do we have a choice the kind of ‘fool’ label that is attached to us as individuals?
Psalm 14: 1 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” & Proverbs 1: 7 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prayer: I hear Your assessment, Father. May I find what Your solution is and may I be established in Your good books. (For the theological purists – in ‘Your Book of Life’).
As I read it! 