Psalms 14 — The Fool Hath Said In His Heart, There Is No God
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. God is in the generation of the righteous. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion!
“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.”
— Psalm 14:1
- v.1-3 No one good
- v.4-7 Salvation from Zion
Paul quotes this in Romans 3:12 to establish universal human sinfulness.
A diagnosis the gospel begins from. Until none that doeth good is felt, the cross is not appreciated.
Verse 1 examines your unspoken assumptions. The heart's atheism is operative — living without consulting God. Reverse it; consult Him in today's decisions.
The salvation from Zion the psalm cries for is Christ. The diagnosis of universal sin in v.3 is the case for which He came.
In his heart. Not necessarily on the lips. Practical atheism — living as if God did not exist — is the verse's target.
The verse describes most people most of the time. The cure is not intellectual; it is moral and spiritual.