Time in the Word ~ Psalm 14:4

Psalm 14 is a confrontational psalm because it makes a stark contrast between the God seeker and the person who refuses to acknowledge the presence or the authority of God in their lives. David’s point is quick and clear, that if you do not acknowledge God in the thinking and conduct of your life, you are a fool. A fool does not lack information, nor does a fool lack intelligence, nor does a fool lack judgment. A fool stubbornly, willfully, and proudly denies the existence of God and his power to rule in his or her life. 

What makes the resistance and denial of God’s power over them so tragic is that all of mankind has a sin problem, and all have turned aside and become corrupt since there is no one who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:3). The Apostle Paul states the self-same truth in Romans 3:23: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The fool is a fool because he turns his back on the only source of help to address the sin problem he has. Unfortunately, when men chart their own course by distancing themselves from God, they develop layers of selfish and unloving crust around their souls that brings them to a dark and unspiritual place. This always happens if you turn your back on God and walk your own path. It is not a question of loss, pain, despair, and a hurtful personality, it is only a matter of when will the fool sink to that miserable state.

This psalm within our devotional text provides indicators of what we will see in our lives if we play the fool:

1. First, we stop learning since we are no longer Disciples of Christ and we turn from the inspiration of the word of God to our own limited minds for wisdom. This compounds our sense of confusion and the chaos in our thinking as we become more and more inconsistent and fail to learn lessons from our own behavior.
2. Second, we become more insensitive to the needs and feelings of others, including those who are closest to us, and boldly use, abuse, and hurt them for our own lust, pride, and power. This is such an ugly truth that gives clear evidence that we have wandered off from the way of God.
3. Finally, we fail to worship God and call on his name. We break all ties with the God who loves us, when in our self-will and pride we refuse to ask for his help. At this point we are driving the car without a GPS and we will drive our lives into the ditch.

David mentions in this Psalm (14:5), that for those who continue to stand firm in their faith and reject foolish ways, that God will be present in their company. When confronted between the choice of a fool or a God seeker, then it is clear that all of us must choose God!

FATHER, PLEASE HELP ME TO STAY HUMBLE AND SEEK YOUR FACE SO THAT I WILL NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THE FOOL AND SUFFER GRIEVOUS LOSS. THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES!

Article source: Mike White @ Summit Church of Christ