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The Psalm describes the deplorable corruption of universal human nature. It begins by declaring that the faculties of the soul are corrupt. "The fool hath said in his heart," and then it goes on to show the evil streams thence issuing — "abominable works." "The fool" signifies a vicious person, a wicked man. The speaking in the heart means his thoughts. "There is no God" does not so much deny His existence, though it amounts to that, as deny that there is any living ruler and governor of the world. This is to strip God of all His glory. And the motive of them who make the denial is evil — that they may be the more free to sin. Now, it is a great folly to deny the existence of God. For he denies what is attested on every hand, and what is made clearly known. Of old, men had many gods, now they say there is none. But the existence of God is the foundation of all religion. And it is well to be able to give reason for our belief, and to put down that secret atheism which lurks in us all, and to confirm in the faith those that love God. But, more particularly, note the atheist's folly.

I. HE DENIES THE SENTIMENT OF ALL NATIONS BOTH IN THEIR JUDGMENT AND PRACTICE.

1. No nation has been without this belief. Idolatry, the worship of many gods, does not weaken this argument, but rather confirms it. The existence of God was never disputed, though nearly all things else were.

2. And it hath been a constant and uninterrupted consent; for —

(i) In all the changes and vicissitudes of governments, states, and modes of worship this has been maintained.(ii) Men's fears and anxieties would have led them to destroy it if possible; there has been no want of will to do so.(iii) The devil deems it impossible to destroy it. When he tempted Adam, it was not to deny God but to become as God.

3. Such sentiment is natural and innate. For —

(i) It could not be by mere tradition. For then we should have had told us not only the existence of God, but the right mode in which to worship Him. Why have men remembered this if it were tradition, and forgotten all the rest? But even if it were, it was not an invention of the first man. If it had been, his posterity would soon have found it out. And why should he have invented it?

(ii) Neither was it by agreement and consent amongst the rulers of men. Why should they do so? How could they so long maintain the imposture?

(iii) Nor was it man's fear that first introduced it. His fear did not create God, but God was the cause of his fear.

II. HE DENIES THAT WHICH ALL THINGS IN THE WORLD MANIFEST. The Scriptures assert this (Romans 1:19, 20). St. Paul does not say "are believed," but are "clearly seen." The world is like a large mirror which reflects the image of God (Psalm 8:1; Psalm 19:1, 2), etc. Now, the world does manifest God.

1. In the production of the creatures it contains (Isaiah 40:12-19). They could never have been their own cause. The world and every creature had a beginning (Hebrews 11:3). The matter of the world cannot be eternal Nor time; for all motion hath beginning, therefore the revolutions of our earth. Nor the generations of men and other creatures; for no creature can make itself. Nothing can act before it be. That which doth not understand itself nor order itself could not make itself. If the first man made himself, why did he not make himself better? why is he so limited and faulty? If we made ourselves we can preserve ourselves, which we know we cannot. And why did not man create himself earlier, if he did so at all? Therefore we accept the Scripture as giving us the most rational account of the matter. Then, further, no creature could make the world, no creature can create another. For if it create of nothing, then it is omnipotent and not a creature. If of matter, who formed the matter? We are compelled to go back to a first Great Cause. Man cannot create man. If he could he would understand him, which he does not. There is, therefore, a first cause of things, which we call God. And this first cause must necessarily exist, and be infinitely perfect.

III. HE DENIES THAT WHICH MAN'S OWN NATURE ATTESTS.

1. His bodily nature does. For see the order, fitness, and usefulness of every part — heart and mouth and brain, car and eye and tongue. And see, too, the admirable differences in the features of men. No two are Mike. What vast advantage comes from this?

2. His soul does. For consider the vastness of its capacity, the quickness of its motions, its union with the body, and the operations of conscience. But all this proves the existence of God. The vastness of the desires in man is in evidence. For the desires of other creatures are fulfilled. "They are filled with good." Then shall man not be?

IV. THEY DENY WHAT IS WITNESSED BY EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCES.

1. Judgments (Psalm 9:16; Acts 12:21), which occurrence Josephus also relates.

2. Miracles (Psalm 70:11, 18). "Who only doeth wondrous things." The truth of the Scriptures stands or falls with the miracles of which it tells. They must have been, or else the records are a pack of lies.

3. Accomplishment of prophecies (Isaiah 41:23; Isaiah 46:10).

V. USES OF ABOVE ARGUMENT.

1. If atheism be a folly it is a pernicious one; for it would root out the foundations of all government and introduce all evil and villainy. The two ever go together (Jeremiah 3:21; Ezekiel 22:12). To the atheist himself (Job 18:7 to the end).

2. How lamentable that atheism should be so common. But since all are tempted to it, let them remember —

(i)  It is impossible to prove that there is no God.

(ii)  Whosoever doubts of it makes himself a mark against which all creatures fight. All things condemn him.

(iii)  Atheists have been sometimes much afraid they were wrong.

(iv)  The motives of atheism are bad and vicious.

(v)  How unreasonable to run such risk.

(vi)  Have we done all we can to attain to the knowledge of God?

3. Let it be our wisdom to be settled in this truth. Therefore study God in His creatures as well as in His Word, and view Him in your own experience of Him.

4. If we believe, then worship Him and often think of Him.

(S. Charnock, B. D.)

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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.

WEB: The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none who does good.