Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Are You a Fool?

Psalm 14 must be pretty important since it is repeated almost word for word in Psalm 53. Both start with “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” Is that you? Or someone you know? Let’s look at just the first three verses. They are quoted in the New Testament in Romans 3: 10 – 12 where they are used to emphasize that we are all sinners; sin is universal.

The fool says in his heart “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

The Hebrew word that is here translated as “fool” denotes one who is morally deficient or morally perverse. These 3 short verses touch on his heart, his mind and his will: the fool’s deeds are corrupt; he doesn’t understand or even look for God. He has turned aside. Is that me? You? Someone we know?

The Psalm continues with several clues as to the differences between “evildoers” and the “righteous”. Evildoers never learn, do not call on the LORD, and are overwhelmed with dread or fear. They frustrate the plans of the poor (the humble/the needy/the afflicted) . . . BUT . . . God is their refuge. God is present in the company of the righteous.

How can I be righteous? I am made righteous through belief on the Lord Jesus Christ whose Hebrew name, Yeshua, is clearly revealed in the last verse of Psalm 14: Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

What? You didn’t see it? Well, you would have heard it if you understood Hebrew. The word for salvation in Hebrew sounds exactly like Yeshua. This last verse gives a prophecy of rescue, restoration, and rejoicing and affirms Yeshua as our salvation.

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