The Song of Fools

Series on the Psalms

Text: Psalm 14

Title: The Song of Fools

Introduction

Before we embark on an examination of the teaching of this Psalm it is appropriate to remark about a peculiar phenomenon. Psalm 14 is almost identical to Psalm 53. However it would be a mistake to overlook the distinctions which are important for the message and application of these Psalms. The two differences are in the name of God which is used and in verse 5. These differences complement one another. The personal covenant name of God, Yahweh, translated Lord is used in Psalm 14 where Psalm 53 uses the more general and generic term God, or Elohiym. The editors of the New Geneva Bible have dismissed this distinction by stating that since Psalm 53 is in Book II of the Psalter, it is appropriate that a broader term be used. This, unfortunately does not really explain the difference. The difference in verse 5 is connected to the distinction in the names of God and helps to explain the distinct purpose of each Psalm. You will notice in Psalm 14 the emphasis in verse five is on the refuge of the child of God in spite of what the wicked foolish unbeliever does to him, There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. In Psalm 53 the emphasis in verse five is on what happens to the wicked foolish unbeliever, There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them. Thus Psalm 14 is written as a comfort and encouragement to those who trust in the Lord and are in covenant relationship with him. The 53rd Psalm is addressed to the world at large and constitutes a warning to them. Psalm 14 points to the refuge of the oppressed in Yahweh, while Psalm 53 points to the fact that the unbeliever has no refuge from the God he denies Thus the Holy Spirit has taken much of the same material and applied it differently in the worship of Israel. Notice secondly that this is not a Psalm of praise but it is addressed to the chief musician. This reminds us, as Spurgeon notes, that the music of Israel was not just praise music. They were to teach and admonish one another in their singing. We shall look at the enemy described, The enemy despised, and The enemy destroyed.

I. The Enemy Described

According to verses 1-3 those that persecute God’s people say there is no God, The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. “God” is the unbeliever’s word. He is Yahweh to his own, but to the unbelieving he is God or Elohiym. The thinking of the practical atheist may be very religious. Unbelief begins in the heart not the head. He says within himself that there is no Creator God to whom we must answer. He does not live his life as if his actions mattered in the end. He is a selfish opportunist, a manipulator who will step on others to climb the ladder of mastery and prosperity. You may think you don’t know anybody like this because you may not know some corporate predator. Actually you meet such people on the road, or in the supermarket, or at baseball games or perhaps next door. They are people whose actions ordinarily have limited consequences and society may look upon them as generally good people. However, don’t cross them, don’t frustrate them, don’t obstruct them because that is when you will discover what they really believe. The description is quoted by Paul in Romans 3:10-13 together with words from Psalm five which also describe the venom of unbelief, As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” Paul is describing the condition of the human race apart from faith in Christ. In fact, his conclusion is that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There are no exceptions here. Apart from Christ, these words are applicable to every soul sitting here and everyone you know. There are no people halfway between. This folly belongs to us all by nature. It is the ultimate folly because God lives and we must answer to him. We are not likely to believe this description of either ourselves or others.

II. The Enemy Despised

In verses 4-6 we read that the natural tendency of man is to consume his neighbor, Will evildoers never learn; those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the LORD? There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. This is a powerful metaphor. Unbelievers devour the faithful in the most apathetic and casual way, like eating bread. The faithful are here portrayed as the poor. If they are not materially challenged, at least they are likely to be oppressed. They are treated as ignorant and unlearned. The first disciples of Jesus were identified that way, and so it has been ever since. The intellectual world, the world of education, business, finance, government all look down upon Christians as those poor deluded fools. The Psalmist David expresses it this way, “they shame the counsel of the poor.” In other words they suggest that the wisdom and advice of believers is foolish. Anybody who would believe such nonsense has got to be a dunce, they say. In this we see the most exquisite irony. The Psalm is about the foolishness of unbelief. As in Psalm 2 God is laughing and holding them in derision and displeasure, but ignoramus is what believers are called. The Hebrew word is Nabal. It is the name of a rich man in Maon who is described as harsh and evil in his doings in I Samuel 25. His wife was Abigail and she later became David’s wife. David asked this rich man for provisions for his army. He had treated Nabal’s servants in the fields well. But Nabal said I don’t even know you and I am not taking my precious provisions for my own house and sharing them. Abigail was a believer and she sneaked the provisions to David. Nabal meanwhile was holding a giant feast. His heart was merry and he was drunk. When Abigail told him he became like a stone. Ten days later the Lord struck him dead. What a picture of the man who does not care about God or his neighbor. This is the real fool. Selfish and self-serving he has no refuge. The Lord is the refuge of his people.

III. The Enemy Destroyed

David prays for the ultimate deliverance in verse 7, Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! This is surely a prophetic leap. Christ is the salvation of Israel who comes out of Zion Zechariah writes, Behold your king is coming to you. It is not surprising in the light of Psalm 2 where David refers to the dominion of the king of God’s people. I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. We know from the New Testament in Acts 4:25 that Psalm 2 is referring to Christ. The words in Psalm 2:8, Ask of me and I will give you the uttermost parts of the earth for your inheritance specifically apply to Christ in his ascension and Session. However David might also have been looking at a nearer time, when his own captivity, which was really the captivity of the nation ended in his enthronement and his successful defeat of all of God’s enemies. As long as the king after God’s heart was not on the throne and was persecuted by Saul, not only David but the whole nation was held captive. A day would come when that was over, but a greater day than that came when Jesus ascended victorious over sin and death. Then, truly, the enemy is destroyed, for every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.

Summary of Psalm 14

In Psalm 14 David affirms that all men are naturally evil because everyone denies the existence of the God who made him. This folly leads to universal wickedness and guiltiness before God. In an effort to turn the tables the wicked say that the faithful are fools. However the foolishness of atheism will be manifested when God overrules the hatred of unbelief, and proves himself a refuge for those that trust in Him. David ends by praying that the Lord would restore the fortunes of his people by giving deliverance. God did this both through David’s elevation to the throne and by Christ’s ascension and session at the right hand of the Father.