🎤 Psalm 53 Song - There Is No God

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“Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’” I've been considering this first line of Psalm 53 lately, to understand what it really means. It could certainly be taken as offensive, and it might even be a little unclear. For example, are we to understand it to say that if one does not believe in God, this makes her a fool? Or is it telling us that a fool will not believe in God?

I have known foolish people who believe in God, and I've also known atheists who don't seem foolish. Many of this latter group are genuinely trying to live a delusion-free life. They feel like they are being more honest and truthful than the rest of us, since they are putting away superstition and facing the meaninglessness we see described in Ecclesiastes. To their credit, they are at least pursuing integrity!

So how might it be understood that foolishness and godlessness go hand in hand?

Let's pause here, and consider the ancient Jewish people. They often failed in their pursuit of God, and so He would send prophets to direct them. These prophets would affirm that God doesn't want sacrificial animals nor blood on the altar, as much as he wants justice to the overlooked, the poor, and the needy. His way is the way of love!

When we really know God, we begin to see how important love is to Him. It's how He defines himself! He represents all that is true, fair, kind, gentle, just, and perfect.

Considering this, who better to believe in when building an infrastructure of wisdom, than the source of all love? You might say that by turning one's back on this loving Source of justice, one reveals a heart focused on hateful destruction.

It's still harsh, but for what other reason would you reject the ideal Archetype of truth?

Oh, Lord, let us be wise in understanding, and may we please you as we seek to emulate your ideals in the world!

Amen

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Denunciation of Godlessness
To the leader: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

1 Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’
They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts;
there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
3 They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.
4 Have they no knowledge, those evildoers,
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon God?
5 There they shall be in great terror,
in terror such as has not been.
For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly;
they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them.
6 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When God restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice;
Israel will be glad.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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