Instruction
Scripture: Psalm 14
This is another psalm which was written by David. There is
no specific event that we know of that caused him to write it, but it is clear
that he was concerned about unbelief, and the context of dealing with people
who reject God is something we can relate to today. The psalm itself is fairly
straight forward speaking of the foolishness of denying God, the depth of human
depravity, and, in the background, the longing for God to reveal Himself in
such a way that all will know Him and believe in Him. The psalm gives words to
God’s people in their frustration with atheism in the world and by describing
the depths of human sin provides a glimpse of the greatness of God’s grace in
Christ.
Teaching
The teaching of this psalm deals first and foremost with the
human condition. We should take care to recognize that this is what we have
been saved from in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The description in the psalm
is very unflattering. Perhaps the harshest words are in v. 3 (which repeats
part of v. 2) – “They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good, not even one.”
No wonder David yearns for salvation to come out of Zion,
which is a symbol for where God dwells. If this is the condition of the people
apart from God he would certainly want to be rescued from such people. In
addition, he would also want God to rescue these people from their terror and
shame, which He has done by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Life
We live in a world that largely operates as though there
were no God. More and more people try to base their lives on a foundation other
than God’s Word. They might choose pleasure, intellect, work, family, or other
things as the foundation of their lives, but they do not want God. It should
come as no surprise then when we see corruption, abominable deeds, and a lack
of understanding of God’s will and what He declares to be right or wrong.
We do well to pray to God, as David did, asking for His
salvation to come forth. We long for that salvation for ourselves and for those
“fools” who do not even know they need to be saved. In Jesus’ anticipated
return we long for our own salvation. But in the meantime, we see that we are
here as witnesses to reveal the Lord who restores the fortunes of His people
and would save us from ourselves.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Instruction and Thanksgiving.
Lord, You teach that it is the fool who says that there is
no God. It is that state of rejecting You that leads people into all kinds of
evil, making them corrupt, doers of abominable deeds, so that, by Your measure,
there is no one who does good. Not only that, with You absent from their lives
they have no knowledge of what matters most. They may have the form of
knowledge, but lacking You they lack its substance.
We thank You that You have rescued us from such foolishness,
for we know we were born into it. Your salvation has gone out. You have sent
Your Son to die for us and to rise, revealing Your love for us and forgiving
our sins. Thank You! Thank You for being our refuge! Thank you for restoring
our fortunes in Christ and for giving us reason to rejoice and be glad. Amen.
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