Psalm 14 - The Fool

The word ‘fool’ is not a nice word. It’s a strong word, it’s a harsh sounding word. But in this Psalm it is a word which David uses, and a word that David explores and expands upon.

We can’t be sure if David is thinking about somebody in particular that he knows, or whether he’s thinking people in general, but either the way the person he has in view is someone who says in their heart ‘There is no God.’

Some people are very strident in denying that God exists. For them it is a point of strong principle and personal ‘belief’ to not believe in God. My guess is there are many many more people who would be reluctant to say with their lips ‘I don’t believe in God’, but who in their hearts live and function as if God is at best irrelevant to daily life.

David says it is foolish to live this way. He pictures God looking down from heaven (vs 2) looking for those who do believe and for those who seek God. That picture of someone ‘seeking God’ gives both space and encouragement to those who live with doubts or uncertainties. In part we all do. God is big enough to find us, to strengthen us and to encourage us when we seek after him.

Jesus knew and loved the Psalms. In Matthew 7 vs 24-28 Jesus told a story about two men who each built a house. One built on rock the other built on sand. Initially both houses looked the same. Then a storm came. The house built on sand collapsed. The house built on the rock was battered but it stood firm. Explaining this parable Jesus likened the one who built on rock to a life built on God’s word – a wise life. The one building on sand is like someone who builds, and chooses, and plans, and reacts without any reference to God – a foolish life.

Pause for thought: Psalm 14 and Jesus’ parable encourage us to recalibrate what our lives are built upon. They also encourage us to anticipate that if, and when, storms come, a life built on Christ will stand firm.