Psalms 53:1-6 NLT
[1] Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! [2] God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. [3] But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! [4] Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God. [5] Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before. God will scatter the bones of your enemies. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them. [6] Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When God restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.
This Psalm is short, but it carries a lot of weight. With just 6 verses, it reveals the deep reality of someone who denies the existence of God. It begins with the statement, "Only a fool says there is no God." When we look at the definition of "fool," it points to someone who is senseless, lacking proper judgment or wisdom. But when we compare this to our modern world, it’s startling how many people—even leaders in various fields—live as if there is no God.
One of the common arguments from those who deny God’s existence is, "How can you know there’s a God if you can’t see Him?" The truth is, as human beings, we tend to believe what we can see. But as followers of Jesus Christ, what sets us apart is that we believe in the unseen. Our faith isn’t based on wishful thinking or fantasy; it’s rooted in the truth that the unseen spiritual world governs the physical world. In other words, the spiritual realm controls the physical realm.
The Psalmist goes on to describe how God looks down from heaven to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks after God. But, as the Psalmist observes, "they have all turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." This reminds me of the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis. When God told Abraham He was going to destroy those cities, Abraham interceded, asking God if He would spare them for the sake of a certain number of righteous people. But in the end, no righteous ones were found, and only Lot and his family were saved—though Lot’s wife disobeyed and turned to a pillar of salt.
It seems like we live in a world today not too different from Sodom and Gomorrah. My prayer is that when God looks down on us, He will find us worthy of His mercy.
The Psalmist also reflects on how evildoers live without a thought of praying to God. They "eat up people as they eat bread," showing their disregard for others. But the Psalmist warns that these people will eventually face terror, their bones will be scattered by God, and they will be put to shame. However, God will rescue His people. When He restores His people, Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be filled with joy.
While the Psalm speaks of the consequences of denying God, it also highlights that God is loving and merciful. My question is, will you and I be counted among God’s people? In this context, "Israel" doesn’t just mean the physical nation but refers to those who truly believe in God. Will God find us standing firm when He returns? I pray that we will not be found wanting in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Psalms 54
Psalm 54: 1-7 NLT
[1] Come with great power, O God, and rescue me! Defend me with your might. [2] Listen to my prayer, O God. Pay attention to my plea. [3] For strangers are attacking me; violent people are trying to kill me. They care nothing for God. Interlude [4] But God is my helper. The Lord keeps me alive! [5] May the evil plans of my enemies be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to them. [6] I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. [7] For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies.
This Psalm is a heartfelt prayer for rescue to God Almighty. The Psalmist is pleading for God's strength and power to deliver and defend him. He's asking God to hear his prayer and pay attention to his plea.
I find this deeply comforting and encouraging. It takes a genuine relationship and trust in God—faith, really—for someone to boldly call on God to come to their rescue. You can't call on someone you don’t believe in. But for those who trust in God, He is always there, able to hear us even when we’re in the most surreal, uncomfortable situations where we have no idea how we'll make it through.
The Psalmist goes on to explain the reason for calling on God: the enemy had risen against them. Then, this prayer shifts into a confession of faith, declaring that the enemy’s plans will be turned back on them and that God’s promise to bring an end to them will be fulfilled. It shifts into a declaration of trust, too—promising to keep vows to God, to praise Him forever because He has saved them and helped them triumph over their enemies.
This passage raises so many questions, doesn't it? We could all read the same chapter and walk away with different insights because we understand in part. The Word of God is new every morning, and it always speaks to us in fresh ways. What I take from this is that we should always call on God in every situation. When we pray, we need to believe that God has already answered. We should confess our faith boldly and keep our promises to Him voluntarily. And, importantly, giving to God should never be transactional—it should flow from a heart of gratitude.
May God help us all to grow in wisdom and guide us in how to approach Him in prayer, no matter the situation. In Jesus' name, amen.
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