Book of Psalms Psalm 14

The Fool’s Song

This wisdom psalm is almost identical to Psalm 53. Paul referred to this psalm in Romans 3:10-12. The theme of this song is the depravity of man, the utter sinfulness of all humanity. It could be called “a dirge on depravity.” Having a Christian worldview is essential if a person is to see life clearly and live it properly. Psalm 14 describes the worldview of all people apart from God and His grace. It describes all people who try to live without God. They are living a fool’s life. Their problem stems from a sinful heart. It has been said that the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. God’s Word gives the right diagnosis and the right cure, salvation and the new birth.

1. The identity of fools – Who is “the fool” in verse 1?

A. A fool is someone with a moral problem, not a mental problem. It is not a problem of the mind, but a problem of the heart. God knows the heart, the thoughts of all men. The word “fool” is a synonym for “sinner.” There are three Hebrew words for fool: ‘iwwelet, insolent, rebellious, quick-tempered, reckless; kesil, obstinate, stubborn, unwilling to learn or do what is right; and nabal, a person who is closed to God and His will (the word used here). The words “There is” (vs. 1) are in italics, indicating that the translators supplied these words. The verse literally says, “The fool has said in his heart, no God.” That is, he chooses to leave God out of his life. He says in effect, “No God for me.” The root of his problem is pride. Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

“A fool in Scripture is never a mentally deficient person, but rather one arrogant and self- sufficient; one who orders his life as if there were no God” (Scofield Reference Bible).

Did you know that atheists are made, not born? All children are born with an innate sense of God, an inborn awareness that there is a God. The story is told of an atheist family having dinner when their young son asked, “Dad, does God know that we don’t believe in Him?” An atheist is someone who refuses to see the truth. Someone has said, “No one is as blind as he who refuses to see.”

B. There are two kinds of atheists (fools):

• The intellectual atheist believes there is no God.

• The practical atheist lives as if there is no god. Most atheists are practical atheists. We know them, work with them, and have them as neighbors. Any person who chooses to leave God out of his life is a fool.

An example of a practical atheist is the rich farmer Jesus described in Luke 12:16-21 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. When we think of atheists, we need to include all people who live their lives as if there is no God.

Horatio Bonar said: “In all unbelief there are two things: a good opinion of one’s self and a bad opinion of God.”

Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Failure to fear God is the foundation of foolishness. No one is more foolish than the person who denies God or leaves God out of his life. A truly wise person not only believes there is a God, but also strives to please Him.

2. The indictment of fools In this psalm David gives an assessment of humanity apart from God. It is not a pretty picture, but an accurate one. Notice the “alls” and the “nones” in this passage. This passage describes every person in the world. Human depravity doesn’t mean that every person commits every sin possible, nor does it mean that sinful people don’t at times show kindness and generosity. Depravity means that all people are tainted with sin and it has affected their entire being. All men are not as bad as they can be, but all are as “bad off” as they can be. Sin has affected every part of every person who has ever lived, except Christ. Sin affects a person’s mind, will, emotions, actions, and attitudes, in short, every part of his being.

A. The fool’s immorality – Their conduct flows out of their character. Their character and conduct are “corrupt.” This word was used four times in Genesis 6 to describe the sinful world in Noah’s day just before the flood. Genesis 6:11-12 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. W. Graham Scroggie said, “There can be no good where there is no God.” The word “filthy” in verse 3, means tainted like sour milk. Apart from God, human activity is sickening and worthless.

B. The fool’s inability – They do not understand or seek God (vs. 2). The lost world can’t find God for the same reason a criminal can’t find a policeman. The entire world is under sin. Good refers to what is good in God’s sight, that is, perfection. People don’t know how to do good, and they are not willing to do good. Lost people may have brilliant minds, but they don’t understand spiritual truth and how to apply it. They are intellectually brilliant and spiritually ignorant. Jeremiah 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish (stupid, senseless) children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. What a terrible accusation. God’s people were acting like foolish people, as if they did not know God at all. Sin breaks God’s law, and it breaks His heart.

C. The fool’s ignorance – They never learn (vs. 4). They are not at peace (vs. 5). And they will never win (vs. 6). They devour or oppose God’s people. Since God is “in the generation of the righteous,” attacking God’s people is actually attacking God Himself and God will judge them for it (vs. 5). “There” (vs. 5) refers to the final judgment. David speaks directly to foolish people who attack the poor. The poor still have God as their shelter. God protects His people from the storm of evil people around them.

The psalm closes (vs. 7) with David’s asking God for Israel’s salvation (deliverance) from all unbelievers. Zion is another name for Jerusalem, the place where God displayed His presence, protection, and power. Psalms 128:5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Psalms 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. He longed for a time when the Lord would establish His kingdom on earth. What a time of rejoicing and celebration that would be. Today God’s people still look forward to that time. We pray “Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

The Fool’s Only Hope:

What is the only remedy for a fool’s sinful condition and his depravity? Examine what God says in Romans 3:10-24 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Two thoughts dominate this passage:

• A sinner must admit his guilt – God’s assessment leads to only one thing—guilt (vs. 19). All mouths must be stopped. All attempts to justify ourselves are of no avail. No one except God is perfect. All of us stand guilty and need His righteousness.

• A sinner must accept God’s grace – The second main thought is grace (vs. 24). God did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He sent His own Son to die for our sins and offer us forgiveness as a free gift. The word “freely” means “without cause.” There is no logical reason why God would justify sinners. This is simply a matter of God’s amazing grace (unmerited favor). Ephesians 2:5-10 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Book of Psalms Psalm 14

The Fool’s Song

This wisdom psalm is almost identical to Psalm 53. Paul referred to this psalm in Romans 3:10-12. The theme of this song is the depravity of man, the utter sinfulness of all humanity. Psalm 14 describes the worldview of all people apart from God and His grace. It describes all people who try to live without God. They are living a fool’s life. Their problem stems from a sinful heart. It has been said that the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart. God’s Word gives the right diagnosis and the right cure, salvation and the new birth.

1. ______of fools – Who is “the fool” in verse 1?

A. A fool is someone with______It is not a problem of the mind, but a problem of the heart. God knows the heart, the thoughts of all men. The word “fool” is a synonym for “sinner.” There are three Hebrew words for fool: ‘iwwelet, insolent, rebellious, quick-tempered, reckless; kesil, obstinate, stubborn, unwilling to learn or do what is right; and nabal, a person who is closed to God and His will (the word used here). The verse literally says, “The fool has said in his heart, no God.” That is, he chooses to leave God out of his life. He says in effect, “No God for me.” The root of his problem is pride. Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

“A fool in Scripture is never a mentally deficient person, but rather one arrogant and self- sufficient; one who orders his life as if there were no God” (Scofield Reference Bible).

Did you know that atheists are made, not born? All children are born with an innate sense of God, an inborn awareness that there is a God. An atheist is someone who refuses to see the truth. Someone has said, “No one is as blind as he who refuses to see.”

B. There are two kinds of______:

• The intellectual atheist______

• The practical atheist______

Horatio Bonar said: “In all unbelief there are two things: a good opinion of one’s self and a bad opinion of God.”

2. ______of fools In this psalm David gives an assessment of humanity apart from God. It is not a pretty picture, but an accurate one. Notice the “alls” and the “nones” in this passage. This passage describes every person in the world. Sin affects a person’s mind, will, emotions, actions, and attitudes, in short, every part of his being.

A. ______Their conduct flows out of their character. Their character and conduct are “corrupt.” This word was used four times in Genesis 6 to describe the sinful world in Noah’s day just before the flood. W. Graham Scroggie said, “There can be no good where there is no God.”

B. ______They do not understand or seek God (vs. 2). The lost world can’t find God for the same reason a criminal can’t find a policeman. Jeremiah 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish (stupid, senseless) children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

C. ______They never learn (vs. 4). They are not at peace (vs. 5). And they will never win (vs. 6). Since God is “in the generation of the righteous,” attacking God’s people is actually attacking God Himself and God will judge them for it (vs. 5).

The Fool’s Only Hope:

Romans 3:10-24 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Two thoughts dominate this passage:

• ______