By Bunni Pounds

*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.

“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.

The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.” (verses 1-3)

Let’s begin by stating the obvious as the Psalmist does. We are fools if we do not believe in God. It is more difficult to not believe in God than it is to believe in God. 

How do we really think a banana came to be? We can hold it in our hands and eat it conveniently. Much like a Coke can with its red and white logo - it was designed by a Creator. 

We all have intricate unique DNA that can not be duplicated by anyone. How did that happen without a Creator? 

Our blood is a cleansing agent that heals our bodies automatically. If we cut our hand – our body instantly goes to work healing it. Amazing on every level. Points to a Creator. 

Look at the galaxy and how the moons travel around the Sun and the billions of stars what replace themselves – if one fades away, more come. The universe is amazing.  Points to a Creator. 

How does anyone not believe in an intelligent designer? 

The FOOL. 

Because man is inherently NOT good, we are looking for ways to justify our wickedness versus turning to something outside of ourselves for validation.  

But here is the heart of God spelled out to us (I absolutely love this verse)

“The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.”

The longing heart of God that desires relationship with us does not care if we are not good – he wants us. He is looking for anyone who turns their eyes toward him. He is looking for anyone who will seek Him. 

Another verse in the Old Testament says it this way:” For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

In the Song of Songs – the bridegroom says to the Shulamite woman as a picture to what our heavenly bridegroom thinks about us – “You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; You have ravished my heart With one look of your eyes, With one link of your necklace. (Song of Solomon 4:9)

Those eyes of desire staring at me grab me every time. Just like we talked about Jesus’ eyes and face in Revelation 1 last week, I am desired. I am sought after. You are desired. You are sought after. 

God is looking for anyone who will just glance at Him – anyone who will seek Him. Whatever way we can come to Him – it matters, our heart reach toward Him captures His heart. 

Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call on the Lord?
There they are in great fear,
For God is with the generation of the righteous.
You shame the counsel of the poor,
But the Lord is his refuge.

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice, and Israel be glad. (verses 4-7)

Let us pause here on this verse – “For God is with the generation of the righteous”. Our relationship with God impacts more than our lives – it impacts generations. When we accept His righteousness and His cleansing blood – it breaks off the past generations and brings us into the newness of life. This relationship with righteousness can change everything. God is now present. He is with us. He becomes personally to us - Emmanuel – God with us. When we walk with God and He is WITH us – do you not think it will affect the generations after you? Do you think your kids and grandkids will not see the impact that He has made on your life? If they are not – then there is something wrong. He is a generational God and a God who desires to bring our whole family into relationship with Him. 

Psalm 14 again is a prophetic psalm of the Messiah – that eternal salvation will come out of Zion and the people of Israel will be impacted by it. God is going to bring His deliverance to His people. 

It echoes the song of Accent that we will study into the future in Psalm 126

“When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.” (Psalm 126:1-3)

This Psalm is directly connected to when Jesus went through the streets of Jerusalem and the Israelites celebrated Him. Just like we celebrate on Palm Sunday, His triumphant return. He will come again. 

Just as the people of Israel rejoiced with palm branches, singing, and dancing – they will rejoice again. 

Just as the nations came to bow before Him and worship – they will worship Him again. 

This story is not over. Great things are just beginning.

When we are beat down and afraid over the state of the world right now – rejoice! Jesus has overcome the world and He is doing great things for us. Remember your captivity and what your God has redeemed you from. Let your mouth be filled with laughter and your mouth with singing.

“The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!” John 12:12-14

Soon and very soon the Israelites (the Jewish people) will say this again – “Baruch haba b'shem Adonai– Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” and their eyes will be open to their Messiah. 

Let us be thankful that our eyes have been open. We can rejoice and say it now – as we seek Him and become the righteous generation of those who rejoice and are glad in Him. We become the ones who understand and seek God in this generation. 

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