Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Counseling
Through the Psalms with James
Long Jr, a special series fromLessons for Life.
I'm James, and in each episodewe will journey into the rich,
honest and healing language ofthe Psalms to find hope, clarity
and comfort for life's deepeststruggles.
Whether you're wrestling withanxiety, grief, anger or
(00:21):
spiritual dryness, the Psalmsoffer us a path towards
restoration and peace throughGod's Word.
So, wherever you are right now,take a deep breath and let's
enter into the heart ofScripture together.
Hey, everyone, welcome back.
It's James.
Grab your Bible and a journaland we're going to be looking at
Psalm 14 today.
(00:42):
Psalm 14 paints a soberingportrait of a world gone astray,
a world where many live as ifGod doesn't exist.
In the face of this denial, godreveals his unwavering refuge
for the righteous and a comingday of great restoration.
Discover the hope that anchorsthe faithful amid widespread
(01:03):
foolishness.
Well, the first section we'llbe looking at today is the
madness of godlessness.
The opening line of Psalm 14strikes with unfiltered boldness
.
The fool says in his heartthere is no God verse 1.
This is not merely a statementof intellectual disbelief.
It is a window into the moraldecay and spiritual delusion of
(01:26):
the heart that refuses toacknowledge the presence, power
and authority of the living God.
The fool is not unintelligent.
In Hebrew mindset, folly is nota matter of low IQ, but a heart
bent on living as if Goddoesn't exist.
The fool suppresses truth,resists conscience and embraces
(01:48):
corruption.
Their inner monologue is thisno God.
For me, this is a declarationof moral independence, a desire
to escape accountability.
But the rejection of God'sauthority doesn't lead to
freedom.
It spirals into a life ofabominable deeds and moral rot.
Verse 1.
This is not simply an ancientproblem.
(02:09):
It's a disease of every humanheart.
Apart from grace.
We may not be vocal atheists,but how often do we live our
days with little regard for God?
How often do our choicesreflect a functional atheism, an
internal no-God whispered as wepursue our own desires over His
?
Romans 3 confirms the universalscope of this corruption.
(02:32):
There is none righteous, no,not one.
Romans 3.10.
Left to ourselves, we all fallinto spiritual madness.
And yet Psalm 14 doesn't leaveus in despair.
It invites us to examine ourhearts and to seek refuge in the
one who is present with hispeople.
God sees what the world ignores.
(02:54):
Look what it says in verse 2.
The Lord looks down from heavenon the children of man.
This is not idle curiosity,this is divine scrutiny.
Imagery recalls the days ofBabel and Sodom, when God came
down to see the corruption ofthe people.
Here he bends low to examinehuman hearts.
He's looking not for talent orappearance, but for
(03:17):
understanding, for hearts thatseek him.
And what does he find?
Not one.
All have turned aside.
Every path apart from him endsin the same place spiritual
decay and distance.
Watch what it says in verse 3.
They have all turned aside.
Together they have becomecorrupt.
There is no one who does good,not even one.
(03:39):
This repetition is intentional.
It underscores the severity ofour depravity.
This is total defection fromgoodness.
And yet, while God sees thebreadth of human rebellion, he
also sees the small remnant whocalls on his name In a world of
God deniers, he sets his gazeupon those who trust in him.
His eyes may scan the earth ingrief, but they also rest with
(04:02):
delight on his children.
Earth in grief, but they alsorest with delight on his
children.
This offers comfort to thefaithful.
No-transcript.
The God who searches heartsknows those who are his.
He will not leave you to beswallowed up by the foolishness
of this age, the arrogance andanguish of the wicked.
The psalm shifts from divineevaluation to divine
(04:25):
astonishment.
Have they no knowledge of God?
Verse 4.
The evildoers devour God'speople without hesitation, as
naturally and mindlessly as theywould eat bread.
This is not merely cruelty,it's indifference.
They are so spiritually numbthat they destroy the faithful
and never stop to consider theconsequences.
They live as if God is absent.
(04:47):
They pray to no one.
They are on the weak and mockthose who make God their refuge
Verse 6,.
And yet their fear will come.
It says in verse 5, there theyare, in great terror.
This is a terror of judgment.
It may not be immediate, but itis inevitable.
There is a deep dread in theheart of the fool, a dread that
(05:08):
their worldview cannot explainaway.
One day, their denial willcollapse under the weight of
truth.
God will not remain silentforever.
He is with the generation ofthe righteous.
He is the shelter of theafflicted.
He sees those who seek him andhe will act.
The longing for restoration,psalm 14, ends not with despair,
(05:29):
but with a cry of hope.
Watch what it says in verse 7.
Oh that the salvation forIsrael would come out of Zion.
Says in verse 7, oh that thesalvation for Israel would come
out of Zion.
This is not wishful thinking,it's prophetic longing.
The psalmist aches for the daywhen God will restore his people
, when righteousness willtriumph over evil and when joy
will replace shame.
This longing finds itsfulfillment in Christ.
(05:50):
From Zion came a greatdeliverer, jesus the deliverer,
the cornerstone, rejected bythis world but precious in the
sight of God.
1 Peter 2, verse 6.
Through his death andresurrection, salvation has come
, and one day that salvationwill be fully revealed when
Christ returns to judge thewicked and renew all things.
(06:10):
Until then, we live with a holyache.
We grieve the foolishness ofthe world that denies God, but
we don't lose heart.
We wait for the day of gladnesswhen Jacob will rejoice and
Israel will be glad, not justethnic Israel, but all the
redeemed who have taken refugein the Lord.
(06:30):
Here are the doctrinal insightsthat we find from this psalm.
First, we see total depravity.
Humanity, apart from God'sgrace, is entirely corrupt and
incapable of doing true good.
Romans, chapter 3, verses 10through 12.
Second, we see God'somniscience.
The Lord sees every heart andjudges righteously, verse 2.
(06:51):
Third, we see divine judgment.
A day of dread awaits those whoreject God and oppress his
people, verse 5.
Fourth, we see God as refuge.
He is the protector and shelterof the afflicted and righteous
verse 6.
And lastly, we see salvationthrough Zion.
Deliverance comes through theMessiah, god's chosen Savior.
(07:13):
That is found in verse 7 andalso in 1 Peter, 2, verse 6.
Now let's put all that doctrinetogether and let's make it
practical, practical theologyfor the struggling soul.
When the world around you mocksyour faith, remember you're not
a fool for trusting in God.
The real folly is living as ifthere were no God.
(07:34):
Second, if you feel outnumbered, take heart.
God sees his people.
He searches for those who seekhim.
You are not overlooked.
Third, when the wicked seem toprosper, know this.
Their terror will come.
God will not allow injustice toendure forever.
Next, are you burdened by thebrokenness of the world?
(07:56):
Cry out with the psalmist longfor Zion and remember Jesus has
already come.
And then, lastly, if you feelashamed or mocked for trusting
in the Lord, cling to this truththe Lord is your refuge.
He honors what the worlddespises.
Well, let's reflect and respond.
First, I want you to considerthis In what ways do you see
(08:20):
functional atheism in your ownlife, moments when you live as
if there is no God, that he'snot present or relevant?
Number two how does Psalm 14shape your view of the world's
brokenness and your calling tolive faithfully within it?
Number three what does it meanto seek after God in a culture
(08:41):
that denies Him?
Number four when have youexperienced the world's contempt
for your faith and how did yourespond?
Number five what fuels yourhope in the midst of a corrupt
and hostile world?
Number six how might you prayfor those who eat up God's
people as if they eat bread?
(09:02):
And number seven in what waysdoes the promise of restoration
in Christ give you strengthtoday?
Well, let's pray, father.
Thank you for revealingyourself through the power of
your word.
Lord Jesus, thank you for beingthe fulfillment of every
promise and anchor for everystorm.
Holy Spirit, guide us in deepertrust, lasting peace and
(09:24):
transforming hope.
Teach us to walk in your truth.
Today, in your son's name, wepray amen.
When the world mocks your faith, the world may call you foolish
for trusting in God, but Psalm14 reminds you that it is those
who deny him that are trulyblind.
Hold fast.
God is your refuge.
(09:45):
He sees, he will not forget you.
If you want to learn more aboutus, why don't you consider
joining our free navigatorslevel at Lessons for Life
Community, at jameslongjrorgslash community for devotionals,
meetups and training that canhelp you walk by faith or
(10:06):
explore one of our fullmemberships at jameslongjrorg
slash.
Sign up now for deeper coachingand content designed to help
you grow emotionally,relationally and spiritually
wise.
Well, just remember this youare not alone, you are seen and
you are secure in him.
Thanks for being with us.
(10:26):
Till next time.
Be blessed, take care.