https://esv.literalword.com/?q=psalm+14
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 7 April 2024:
Psalm 14:1 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.
Nothing has changed.
The obvious point of this verse is that atheism is utterly foolish. The less obvious point is that all sin (foolishness) is, essentially, a moment of saying, ‘There is no God.’ In sin, God has been removed from the decision-making cycle or rendered a non-factor, at least (or worst) subordinate to self. When the atheist rejects God, he essentially makes himself the god of his life — the one to be served, the decider of right and wrong, the only hope for salvation, etc. That person, though (s)he may appear fun-loving or respectable, is corrupt at the core and guaranteed to do abominable deeds.
On the other hand, the believer who sins has become his own god (idol) for the moment, a practical atheist worshipping (assigning priority value) to something other than God which is a subordinate idol to the ultimate idol of self. Both the atheist and the sinful Christian are operating in the illusion of self-sovereignty.
The first letter in “idol” is “I”. When we make ourselves the priority against the First Commandment, we become the embodiment of foolishness, we become corrupt, and we are guaranteed to do abominable things, though we, by definition, won’t see our sins as abominable, rather justifiable or at least understandable. So, to restate the point — This verse does not apply just (or even primarily) to those self-proclaimed, at times outspoken, atheists out there; but also, more importantly, to the practical atheist, that person who proudly proclaims faith, but who thinks, speaks, and acts as if there is really no God. It is the person who proclaims faith without a true heart of faith that is perhaps most troubling because they likely won’t even admit their practical atheism and, by their actions, bear false witness of the Lord before others; they proclaim a weak god of poor character. These are they who Jesus says, “because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)
The practical atheist may believe ‘in God’ (as the demons do) but doesn’t ‘believe God’ in a way which loves, trusts, and obeys Him. Counter to Hebrews 11:6, the practical atheist doesn’t really believe God, the Holy, Almighty, Sovereign means what He says. The Practical atheist doesn’t take seriously the call to be a critical part of “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:6). The practical atheist does not take Exodus 20 very seriously. The practical atheist recklessly takes matters into his own hands without waiting on God. (Exodus 14:14)
Ironically, the practical atheist who prefers self over God ultimately robs himself of the total life fulfillment he is actually seeking, replacing the unsurpassable, unimaginable and eternal blessings and riches of God for fleeting, unfulfilling desires and relationships based on lust (self-interest) rather than love. In a futile effort to gain life, he actually loses his way, can’t see the truth, and loses his life. Jesus said, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it…. I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me…. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Mark 8:35; John 14:6; Luke 9:23)
Psalm 14:4 – Evildoers… eat up… people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?
Sin is self-centeredness and selfishness that violates the First Commandment and the Great Commandment. Self-centered, selfish people always hurt themselves and others. We were created to be interdependent. Outside of love, you are like a fish out of water, struggling violently and hopelessly for life, only expediting death the more you struggle. Jesus is the Living Water required for life.
Psalm 14:5 – There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
We have a tendency to think in the physical realm and apply physical rules to the spiritual God. We tend to think of God being “with” us in terms of time and space – He is physically here and then He is physically not here. However, God is spirit and is not bound by the physical attributes of time and space. Being with God or walking with God is a spiritual condition that is determined by the heart condition and by obedience. God is omnipresent and unchanging. We choose to separate from God and lose awareness of His omnipresence when we choose to separate from Him in sin. He is still present, but we become blind to His presence. We are like an out of tune radio that cannot receive the unseen radio waves that are being transmitted continually. The radio waves don’t change; it is the radio that must be adjusted.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 7 April 2024: This morning, examine your motives. Why do you really do what you do? Is it truly for God or for self? Are you driven by the love of Christ expressed in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Or are you driven (or stalled) by self-centered desires, fear, pride, guilt, anger, vengeance, anxiety, despair, hopelessness, or aimlessness? Pray that God will give you a heart that truly treasures Him above all else (including yourself) and trusts Him to give your whole life over to Him.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 