Psalm 53 – The Fool versus the Wise
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 way God sees things is SO different than the ways we process truth. We overcomplicate, over think, and justify our weaknesses, but God sees it simply like this – are you foolish or wise? He asks in this passage of scripture – is “there any who understand, who seek God”?
God’s definition of foolish is spelled out for us here in Psalm 53. Do we really believe “there is no God”? If we are stuck on that – then we are foolish.
“The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good.” (verse 1)
Today in modern America – people think they are good. Absolute truth has been thrown out the window and people’s idea of whether they are right with God is contingent on if they feel good about themselves or are tolerant of others. The problem with Americans right now is this - number 1 – we don’t see our need for God and number 2 – we don’t see our need for God.
Isaiah 55:7-9 says “Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
To realize that we need to forsake our ways and for true repentance to happen – we must recognize first that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. Our unregenerate mind cannot receive the Word of God – we need transformation. We need HIM. We are not good enough.
Verse 2 of Psalm 53 gives us a window into the heart of God -
“God looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” (verse 2)
In the life of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 16 – we see what happens when we look to God or when we trust in our own abilities.
Asa defeated the Ethiopians and the Lubim because he trusted in the Lord, but when it came to the King of Syria – the King escaped from his hand. Hanani the prophetic seer told Asa why: “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. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Think about this for a minute – God’s eyes are looking down from heaven upon all of us looking for anyone who will seek Him or trust in Him. This is the truth! This is the Word of God.
When the devil tells us that our weak prayers are hitting the ceiling or God doesn’t see our pain and our need for Him – it is a lie. God sees us. He hears us. When we put our trust in Him and acknowledge our need for Him – He is so close to us. He is running to be with us. He is looking for us.
This truth - understanding the heart of God towards me - has only increased my determination to love Him more.
He wants me. He desires to be with me.
Later King Asa dies of disease and the scripture says he trusted in the doctors and not in God. He could have easily turned to God for healing, but he chose to trust in his own strength and the things in the temporal that he could see.
Here is a New Testament scripture that reaffirms to us that God is looking for us and listening to us. This is the TRUTH! Let it sink into our hearts today.
1 Peter 3:12 – “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Now let’s continue and read the rest of Psalm 53 with God’s desire for us in our minds.
“Every one of them has turned aside;
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon God?
There they are in great fear
Where no fear was,
For God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you;
You have put them to shame,
Because God has despised them.
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When God brings back the captivity of His people,
Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad.” (verses 3-6)
Again – here is the simplicity of the understanding of the wise. Everyone needs God! If we think we don’t have any sin – we deceive ourselves.
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24
There is no one good but God. Jesus even made that clear in His communications to the people of Israel that He was the Messiah and that they needed Him.
Here is where rejoicing and gladness come... when SALVATION comes. When we come to realize that we are not good, that we need a Savior, that we are not wise – then God can rescue us with His grace and His mercy.
This is what King Asa missed out on. He didn’t give God the opportunity to rescue and heal him because he didn’t ever turn his eyes off himself.
We can’t be good without Jesus.
We can’t be healed without Jesus.
We can’t be free of iniquity without Jesus.
We can’t have real happiness and gladness without Jesus.
When we realize our need for Him – we are set free and salvation comes.
This is the difference between fools and those who are really wise – we know we need God. It is not hard to be wise. Just know - we can’t make it without Him. We want His eyes to settle on us and see our little bit of faith and rest on us with His presence.
Again, we need HIM.
Personally, I want Jesus to look for me and find my heart that is turned toward Him and seeking Him even in my busyness and weakness. I want Him to say to the world – “I love that girl, because she needs Me. I am going to move on her behalf because she can’t live without Me.”
I don’t want to be a fool.
God – give me wisdom to know my need for You today.
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