Daily Devotion in Psalm 53

Daily Nugget:
Except for a few word changes and a compiled sentence, Psalm 14 and 53 are much the same. This chapter also talks about people that have existed since man’s beginning. It speaks of those that deny the existence of God.

God’s Word makes it quite clear that those God-deniers are “fools.” David also warned that they are corrupt and certainly should not be trusted, even though they boast of their accomplishments. God sees their deeds as abominable (Psalm 53:1), and there is nothing “good” about them.

A closer study shows that the atheist referred to here is a unique kind of fool. In verse one, the Hebrew word for “fool” is “nabal.” Nabal was a man that married Abigail in I Samuel 25. Nabal was an unreasonable, rude (“churlish”) man (I Samuel 25:3).

Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines this type of fool with even stronger language. Mr. Webster declares such foolish people as “stupid, wicked, vile persons.”

There are many today that, when asked about their beliefs, quickly respond by saying they are “atheists.” They openly admit that there is no God. 

Those people get so upset when others talk about God. If they believe He does not exist, why are they getting so mad? The Easter bunny is not real, yet I never heard one atheist insist that the mentioning of the Bunny should be banned from schools, public forums, and even in one’s language.

As intelligent as many of those God-haters believe they are, God sees them as far from being as brilliant as they see themselves. He hates their sin, and no one should give their folly any credence. Pray for those foolish people that they see themselves as God sees them — sinners (Romans 3:23).

Today’s Thought: 
“How do you know there is a God?" said a scoffer to his guide, who was rising from prayer.

"How did I know a camel passed my tent in the darkness but by the print of his hoof? So, I know yonder footprint is not man's but God's," as he pointed to the sunset in the glowing west.” — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Abominable: extremely hated
Iniquity: sin, crime
Mahalath: probably a title of a popular song
Maschil: To understand, to receive instruction

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 53
1 To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5 There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
6 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.