The Action of God
Opening Prayer
Lord, please bring Your peace and justice in our lives and in our world. Thank You.
Read Psalm 53
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[1] For the director of music. According to mahalath. A maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. [2] God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. [3] Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. [4] Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on God. [5] But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them. [6] Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does the fool see life?In the Psalms the word “fool” refers to those who ignore reality. In Psalm 53 the fool ignores the reality of the existence of God, which leads to immoral living (1,3). Yet the psalmist, who believes very much in God, is wrestling with a different problem: given that the world is full of corruption, why doesn’t God do something about what is happening? Even if the one who strives to live in right relationship with God is suffering, while the fool seems to be prospering, God will bring justice.God will act. This is so certain that by the end of verse 5 the psalmist speaks as if God has already acted. The psalmist acknowledges the reality that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (3; see also Romans 3:23), but this reality is faced with the knowledge of who God is: God is actively involved in creation. The psalmist imagines that God will act violently toward those who deny him (5), but in Christ God shows the world the ultimate act of grace and love. Jesus’ death makes it possible for even those who would deny God to turn and receive salvation.
Apply
Think how you can show the love of God today. Let your words and actions reveal Jesus to those who doubt the existence of God.
Closing prayer
Father in heaven, thank You that You are establishing Your kingdom on earth. Let me work with You.
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