Psalm 14 | Wednesday Bible Study

We are in the first week of April. As we begin this second quarter of the year, let's reflect on the things we have learned in the Psalms up to this point. In Psalm Chapter One, we learned to be successful we must stay connected to the Source of Living Water. In Psalm Chapter Two, we discovered Jesus Christ is the anchor we need to cling to in these evil days. In Psalm Chapter Three, we studied how David got his courage back when he was fleeing from his son Absalom. In Psalm Chapter Four, David finds the solution to insomnia. Psalm Chapter Five gives us a wonderful formula for how to pray boldly and effectively. Psalm Chapter Six is the first of seven penitential psalms dealing primarily with sin and forgiveness of sin. Psalm Chapter Seven is a shiggaion, which is a lyrical poem composed under great distress and persecution, but he still ends this song in praise. Psalm Chapter Eight, David begins and ends with proclaiming, "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!" Psalm Chapter Nine, David ends this psalm with an awesome statement. Do you remember what he said? "Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah." What a sobering thought, huh? In Psalm Chapter Ten, we see the psalmist asking where is God. We often hear that same question in our world today, but the good news is we discover that God is always near to us, especially in times of grief, loss, and pain. Psalm Chapter Eleven, encourages us that when we go through the valley, it can be hard and feel lonely, but God will keep His promise to never leave or abandon us. Psalm Chapter Twelve, begins with lamenting and sorrow, and ends with hope and promise. And finally in Psalm Chapter Thirteen, we read David bearing his heart before God, upset and distraught, but then he begins to draw strength from God and ends the psalm saying that he is full of answered prayers! The see-saw motion of these psalms remind me of life today. We go to God upset and in tears over problems too big for us to handle, and then we begin to praise God and thank Him for what He has already done, and before we are done praying we have our joy back and we are strengthened. We end the prayer in praise because God has proven Himself faithful time and time again. Let's see what today's Bible study has in store.

If you have not already done so, please take a few moments to pray and ask Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear what the Spirit is saying to us today. Read the seven verses in today's passage. This is a psalm of David to the chief Musician. I love that! God is the chief Musician. Let's look at today's passage.

Verse 1

My study Bible says this, "The foolish individual (Heb. nabal) lacks spiritual discernment, not intelligence, denying the existence of God, and living as if God did not exist. The opposite of folly or foolishness in the OT is not intelligence but rather steadfast devotion to the Lord. Paul's use of Psalm 14 emphasizes that we are all foolish as long as we choose to separate ourselves from the wisdom of God found in the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 1:18-25; compare Ps. 14 with Ps. 53).

In the Enduring Word Bible Commentary it says this: "The God-denying man is a fool because:

• He denies what is plainly evident.
• He believes in tremendous effect with no cause.
• He denies a moral authority in the universe.
• He believes only what can be proven by the scientific method.
• He takes a dramatic, losing chance on his supposition that there is no God.
• He refuses to be persuaded by the many powerful arguments for the existence of God."

The issue David points out is that the foolish one who says there is no God, is not only thinking that there is no God, but refuses to make room for God in his heart. The problem is not an intellectual issue only then, but a matter of the heart as well. To be an effective witness for Christ and His love for all of mankind, we must not just appeal to a person's thinking but also to the seat of their emotions, which is the heart.

The question then is raised, can one profess there is a God with their mind and yet deny Him in their heart? The answer is yes! There are many people today who attend church services, pay tithes, give generously, know when to sit and when to stand, when to clap, and when to be silent. They will do all the fundamental things a "Christian" should do in the church, but then walk out the doors of the church and deny Him by their lifestyle. The enormous task then is to reach the heart of that man or woman who only gives God a little time during one service a week, but completely closes Him out of their lives the rest of the day and the upcoming week and thinks they are doing well.

Verse 2

David paints us a picture in the second verse of this chapter. He says God looked down from heaven to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. What if God was to look down on planet earth today to see if any understood and sought God? What do you think He would find? This world is so corrupt. The evil laws passed in this country, state by state, and the wickedness in the hearts of many of our leaders is not missed by God. He sees the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Verse 3

David says there is not even one person who does good. We cannot say that every believer in Christ Jesus lives a perfect, sinless life; and every unbeliever is living wickedly. We do know that those who put their trust in Christ and choose to obey God's commands often make better choices than those who do not even acknowledge God's existence at all. There is a moral compass we abide by that those who are not followers of Christ Jesus do not necessarily agree with. Even doing good things and trying to do what is right, we are still in the category of none doing good. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Verse 4

The Psalmist continues the question of sinners not having knowledge. It is not that there is not enough evidence to convince them that there is a God; and it is not that they lack intelligence, but rather they choose to deny God. They abuse God's people. The statement is they eat up God's people like they eat bread without giving thanks.

Verse 5

They will eventually come face to face with the undeniable reality of God. They can continue to reject Him but this verse says God is in the generation of the righteous. He is going to look out for His people who are making strides to live a life to please Him.

Verse 6

Here David reminds us that God is our refuge. We can run to Him and we are safe. Sure we may be ridiculed and mocked for our faith in God. We may be looked down upon because we put our hope and trust in Jesus Christ. Let them laugh. Let them scorn. They hated Jesus so that is why we are hated. Jesus said this, Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. They hate us because we are children of God. But God is our refuge so we do not have to be upset or worried about their reaction to us.

Verse 7

The celebration will happen when sin is abolished forever. We read about that great day in Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon Him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Friends, one day God is going to give the signal to say He has had enough. I believe it will not be long before Jesus returns in the clouds. He will not be meek and mild when He comes back. When I read that His eyes were like a flame of fire I know He is all business. He is triumphant and He wins! In the end, God will set all wrongs right and He will deliver His people. I do not know when He is coming but I know that He IS coming! Let's keep living for God. Let's continue to walk in His paths and lean not on our own understanding. Let's do all we can for Him while we are on this earth and when it seems like the world is so corrupt and undone, we can take refuge in our Savior and soon-coming King Jesus.

I hope you learned something new in today's Bible study. It was very good to study this. I read from my regular Bible, my Women's Study Bible, and two different commentaries online. I hope that something I shared on my blog today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens