AM I FOOLISH?
Opening Prayer
My God who made the world and everything in it, it amazes me that you are not only mindful of me, but you also love me and gave your Son for my salvation. Please accept my thanksgiving and praise.
Read PSALM 53
Psalm 53[a]
For the director of music. According to mahalath.[b] A maskil[c] of David.
1 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!
Footnotes
- Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Pray for an open heart to the truth within and open eyes to see how to trust God in a deeper, unseen yet assured way.
Think Further
I often dread the thing that never happens (v 5). Ultimately, what do we fear: life after death, life without God? Calvary covers them all. David did not know that, but he still saw the day of rejoicing and salvation coming. This psalm no doubt identifies with those who should have known better yet turned from God with flagrant disregard (v 4)! How often I say (without actually saying it), ‘There is no God.’ My sinful acts are a disregard of God, unlikely to be performed were he fully visible before me. My dismissal of his voice is blatant denial of his presence.
For David, living among those with constant antagonism toward God was hard, as though ‘everyone has turned away’ (v 3) and no one was left. How easy it is to be like Elisha’s servant, seeing only the army which is against us. Yet, as Elisha said, ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’1 Today we still feel this, as though everyone has rejected God and we walk alone. We, too, must be wary of exaggerated generalizations – ‘no one cares’, ‘everyone in church’ thinks this or that – and of self-prominence or self-victimization. Fact: God is Most High and therefore sees all (v 2) and he acts accordingly. David’s prayer is heard and answered: ‘Oh, that salvation … would come out of Zion!’ (v 6). Jesus Christ has come and is coming, as Scripture rejoices: ‘Daughter Zion … See, your king comes to you.’2 So, rejoice, be glad, say and fear what you will, but be aware – only the fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’ (v 1). Maybe not instantly, or in the way we expect, but Israel will rejoice, as will Jacob, as God hears and the cry (v 6) is answered.
Apply
Beware of the enemy’s ploy – to say ‘there is no God.’ God is victorious; everything is his and under his authority. We rest in that blessed assurance.
Closing prayer
Help me remember that you have given me everything I need to stand for you in this world.
1 2 Kings 6:16 2 Matt 21:5; see also Zech 9:9
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.