Psalm 14 | No One Seeks God

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Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 15, 2022

Image by Gary Cassel from Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/images/id-3481791/

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

(Psalm 14:1–7, ESV)

If there is no one who does good, not even one...no one who understand nor even seek to understand God's authority and goodness...then who are "the righteous"? With whom is God present? Whom does God call "my people"?

God's people are those for whom he has good plans, plans of salvation, rstoration, fortunes, rejoicing and gladness.

If no one seeks God, how is it that the poor people of God go to him for refuge? How are they able to call on God, even in their lack of understanding and corrupt disregard of his authority and goodness?

Does "There they are..." refer to the evildoers or the righteous? It refers to the evildoers. "Evildoers" precedes "they". The reason "they", the evildoers, are overwhelmed with dread is because God is present, in the company of the rightous, an as yet future hope for which David prays.

Here, dread is a very good thing! It indicates a heart-felt belief in the authority of God, and perhaps that dread will lead to calling upon God for refuge.

Create in me a heart of dread, God! Dread at the thought of becoming proudly corrupt and abominable, not understanding, not seeking, not knowing, oppressed and oppressing, in terror terrorizing others, shamed and shaming others.

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