Psalm 14

The fool...

Read/pray the psalm. (Full text at bottom.)

• “Fool” is a technical term in the Bible—not merely a simpleton or a silly person; nor someone without good judgment or common sense; nor a court jester, etc.

  • The fool is a rebel towards God, a scoundrel, a person of bad character.

  • So their atheism is an attitude, a posture of denial towards God’s sovereignty in the world.

  • (And often of abuse towards the poor and weak, as here.)

  • The Hebrew word is nabal—Nabal being the (appropriate) name of the husband of Abigail (future wife of David).

• But here David laments: Everyone has wandered far from God!

• Finally, he finds hope in the salvation of the LORD.

So…

• Make a rebel-like fist, then open your palm, to receive from God in humility.

• Pray: “I repent of my fool-ish will. I put my trust in you, LORD.”

Psalm 14
Dixit insipiens

1	The fool has said in his heart, *
		“There is no God.”
2	They are corrupt and have become abominable in their doings; * 
		there is none that does good, no, not one.
3	The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, * 
		to see if there were any who would understand and seek after God.
4	But they have all gone astray; they have altogether become abominable; *
		there is none that does good, no, not one.
5	Have they no knowledge, all those workers of evil, *
		who eat up my people as bread, and call not upon the Lord? 
6	There were they brought into great fear, even where no fear was; *
		for God is in the generation of the righteous.
7	Though you have made a mockery of the counsel of the poor, * 
		yet they put their trust in the Lord.
8	Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Zion? *
		When the Lord restores his captive people, then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

New Coverdale Psalter