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1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the LORD. 5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. 6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! (Psalm 14 NIV Bible)
I can truly understand David's dilemma. He was the product of a God-believing mother and father. He knew the scriptures; he had been taught to pray. He was taught to worship and he taught himself to write songs of praise. His reality was a life where God was real and present. I can only imagine the day he met someone who was not like him. A person who dared say, "There is no God." I sincerely believe that he was kind and refrained from using stronger language, but still used a rough word, fool, to describe what kind of person David considered this man to be.
This psalm contrasts the wisdom of seeking God with the foolishness of denying His existence or ignoring His commands. The "fool" described here is not merely someone lacking intelligence but one who is morally corrupt, choosing to live as if God does not exist and acting accordingly. Perhaps you inow someone like that. Some hide behind nonbelief in order to not feel bad about their actions and/or decisions. As David called them, they have become corrupt.
In our world today, the temptation to live as if God is irrelevant or nonexistent is prevalent. Many voices proclaim ideologies that deny or undermine the reality of God. Yet, the psalmist reminds us that God is sovereign and watches over all humanity. He sees the condition of our hearts and actions, discerning those who seek Him and those who reject Him. God still loves the unbeliever and God's desire is for all to come to Him.
The psalmist also highlights the contrast between the fate of the evildoers and the righteous. While evildoers may seem to prosper temporarily, their ultimate end is one of dread and destruction. In contrast, the righteous find refuge in the Lord, and their hope lies in His salvation and restoration.
PRAYER: Loving God, we come before You acknowledging Your sovereignty and goodness. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have been tempted to live as if You do not exist, and for the moments we have allowed the voices of this world to overshadow your truth. Help us to have discerning hearts, to seek You earnestly, and to live in alignment with Your will.Grant us the strength to stand firm in our faith, even when the world around us denies Your existence or opposes your ways. Thank you for being our refuge and strength, and for the hope we have in Your salvation through Jesus Christ. May our lives be a testimony to Your grace and truth. Use us, Lord, to proclaim Your kingdom and to bring others into a saving knowledge of You. In Christ Jesus' strong name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Daily seek God through prayer and Bible study, and seeking to spend time in His presence. Seek to have a deeper relationship with God. Also, let your actions and words reflect your belief in God's existence and God's commands. Become a witness of God's love and truth in your daily interactions. Finally, stand firm in truth and freely share your testimony of how you came to faith. Know that God sees and knows all things and God is there for you.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
