Psalm 14:1-7 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.… The Christian faith, like the Christian man, has to pass through many a conflict. In every age of its existence it has had to fight, not only for its final developments, but also for its first principles. The Bible is not passive in this conflict. It strikes as well as bears — assails as well as defends. And when scepticism has run its usual course to atheism, and the man who began with doubting Revelation goes on to deny the Revealer, it comes forth with the lofty sarcasm — "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Observe the scope of the utterance. I. AS TO ITS MATTER. The Bible all through tells us of God. "In the beginning God." And it tells of Him as a Personal Being of the highest attributes. But the "fool" denies it. II. THE MANNER OF THE UTTERANCE. It is private rather than public; he saith "in his heart," that is, when alone. It may lie the breathing of a wish rather than a conviction. III. THE CAUSES OF THE UTTERANCE. We shall find them in our hearts. 1. We do not like the mystery of God. It is so humbling to us to believe in a being whom we are utterly unable to understand. 2. We do not like the authority of God. Now we come nearer home. We could bear with the mystery if it had nothing to do with us. But the claims of God upon us are infinite and endless. His hand is ever upon us. It is as much as I can do to submit to the ordinary laws of social life; but a law that pursues me everywhere and always, and sends its mandates into the secrecy of my mind and heart — that is more than I can bear. I wish there were no such law. 3. We do not like the prospect of meeting Him. To most men it is most unwelcome. IV. THE CHARACTER OF SUCH AN UTTERANCE. It is the fool that says it. See how gross his folly. (F. Tucker, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. |
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