Daily Nugget:
Except for a few word changes and a compiled sentence, Psalms 14 and 53 are much the same. This chapter also talks about people who have existed since man’s beginning. It speaks of those who deny the existence of God.
God’s Word makes it clear that those God-deniers are “fools.” David also warned that they are corrupt and certainly should not be trusted, even though they boast of their accomplishments. God sees their deeds as abominable (Psalm 53:1), and nothing is “good” about them.
A closer study shows that the atheist referred to here is a unique kind of fool. In verse one, the Hebrew word for “fool” is “nabal.” Nabal was a man who married Abigail in I Samuel 25. Nabal was an unreasonable, rude (“churlish”) man (I Samuel 25:3).
Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines this type of fool with even stronger language. Mr. Webster declares such foolish people as “stupid, wicked, and vile.”
There are many today who, when asked about their beliefs, quickly respond by saying they are “atheists.” They openly admit that there is no God.
Those people get so upset when others talk about God. Why are they getting so mad if they believe He does not exist? The Easter Bunny is not real, yet I never heard one atheist insist that mentioning the Bunny should be banned from schools, public forums, and even in one’s language.
As intelligent as many of those God-haters believe they are, God sees them as far from being as brilliant as they see themselves. He hates their sin, and no one should give their folly any credence. Pray for those foolish people that they see themselves as God sees them — sinners (Romans 3:23).
Today’s Thought:
“How do you know there is a God?” said a scoffer to his guide, who was rising from prayer.
“How did I know a camel passed my tent in the darkness but by the print of his hoof? So, I know yonder footprint is not man’s but God’s,” as he pointed to the sunset in the glowing west.”
— Author Unknown
Words to Understand:
Abominable: extremely hated
Iniquity: sin, crime
Mahalath: probably a title of a popular song
Maschil: To understand, to receive instruction
Today’s Reading:
Psalm 53
1 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
Sometimes, we Christ followers are compelled to be surrounded by atheists who will question, sometime mocking, our beliefs. They attempt to “out-intelligent” us, by asking what they believe are “gotcha” questions.
My favorite is: “Can you prove there is a God?” They appear to be bum-fuzzled by my response! “Walk outside and tell me what you see…all the proof of God’s existence surrounds you. See the beauty in the flowers, the birds, balance of night and day, the air you breathe, the rain that falls, and the energy of the Sun. And, the amazing body you live in. Do you truly believe that you evolved from pond scum? I doubt it.
That said: It takes more faith to believe God doesn’t exist than it does to acknowledge His existence!”