Psalm 14:1-7 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good.… This is God's world, and yet how godless. God made it and the men in it, and yet "in all their thoughts God is not." The origin of this alienation is in the heart, and the subject of it is pronounced a fool. His heart is just what it would be were there no God. Inquire — I. TO WHOM THIS CHARGE MAY BE APPLIED. 1. To the avowed atheist. He who sees the proofs of God in creation and can yet deny Him, can neither love nor fear Him. 2. To those who entertain false views of His character. They deny that He is the righteous Governor of the moral world. But this is much the same as to say, "There is no God." 3. To those who deny or disregard the providential government of God. He lives without God in the world. 4. To those who supremely love the world. Is this treating God as He ought to be treated? 5. Who have no delight in the worship of God. They act the part of atheism. 6. Or who live in disobedience to God. They act upon a principle which subverts the sovereignty of God. 7. All who reject the Gospel. By his unbelief the man makes God a liar. What more could the avowed atheist do? And there are yet other characteristics. But note — II. THE FOLLY OF THESE MEN. This appears — 1. From the fact that there may be a God. No man, unless he himself is omnipresent and omniscient, can know that there is not somewhere some other being to whom these attributes belong. If there be no God, the believer suffers no loss; but if there be, then the atheist is undone. 2. His belief is contrary to the fullest evidence. He shuts his eyes and stops his ears. 3. They deprive themselves of all real good. For without faith in God there can be no rational enjoyment of the world. Nor can there be true excellence of character. For be places himself beyond the reach of every motive which ennobles character and elevates man to the end of his being. Without God there is no rule of action, no accountability, no futurity, no retribution, no influence to operate on man for his spiritual good. And he must become supremely selfish. The spirit may be concealed in its true nature and tendency. But take off the garb, let the real selfish heart be uncovered, let it be seen in its true character, and we abhor it. And he has no support under affliction or support on the bed of death. But believe in God and how altered affliction and death become. A man may have lived an infidel, but for the most part he dies a terrified believer. How must he feel, when death comes, who admits that there is a God, and yet that he has lived as if there were none? Beware of that eternity which is opening on you. (N. W. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses 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. |
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