Today's Featured Psalm
Psalm 14

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To the choirmaster. Of David.

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
   They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
   there is none who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
   to see if there are any who understand,
   who seek after God.

3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
   there is none who does good,
   not even one.

4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
   who eat up my people as they eat bread
   and do not call upon the LORD?

5 There they are in great terror,
   for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor,
   but the LORD is his refuge.

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
   When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
   let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Scripture taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm Devotional
Man in Full

The depravity of man and the consequences of atheism are apparent in Psalm 14.

Verses 1-3 outline the condition of mankind apart from God’s grace. These verses inform us that we are by nature theoretical and practical atheists.

Only a fool denies God in his heart (v. 1). The problem is that we are all fools (Rom. 1:21-22). By nature we deny God in our hearts. This is theoretical atheism, and those who practice it are called fools by God. However, don’t confuse the fool mentioned here with some simpleton. The Bible defines a fool as someone who seeks knowledge independently of God. According to the Bible, a person with a Ph.D. can be a fool. Remember, Adam and Eve became fools by attempting to gain wisdom apart from God (Gen. 3:6).

Although atheism begins in the mind, it does not remain there. Theoretical atheism inevitably leads to practical atheism. Verse 1 teaches us that those who say in their heart, “There is no God,” also act according to this presupposition; they are corrupt and vile in their conduct. Every time we sin, even as Christians, we are displaying the actions of a practical atheist. In our heart we say there is a God, but our disobedience proclaims the exact opposite. What do your actions proclaim?

Listen to this Psalm

Abundance album art Within His Heart the Fool Spoke (Psalm 14A)
The Book of Psalms for Worship | Abundance
Zion album art Within His Heart the Fool Speaks (Psalm 14B)
The Book of Psalms for Worship | Zion