"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. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad." (Psalms 14:1-7)

          Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 are almost identical in context. Without thought the senseless one says “God is not." The result of thinking that "there is no God" is that people become corrupt. They do abominable deeds. They are heartless and cruel and they never do right in their life. God is real and we are accountable to Him. Only the foolish would not know this. It is far better to receive God's teachings and correct your life than to foolishly remain in sin. The person who says “there is no God” and the person who chooses to live in sin is never alone. As God looks from heaven, He sees that all need the Savior. John wrote, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) The words of Romans 3:9-12 say, "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." It seems that the evil will never learn. They refuse to pray and they eat up the people of God as if they were eating bread. God is all powerful and those who reject Him will know only terror in the end. The Lord brought salvation out of Zion and even extended His mercy to us Gentiles.

          Psalm 14 is another psalm of contrast. First, David spoke of the senseless ones who reject the Almighty saying the God is not. This results in great wickedness. In contrast to this David then spoke about the salvation of God that is available to any who would turn to Him in humble obedience.

          The denial and rejection of God -- Psalm 14:1-3: David began this psalm by showing that the height of folly is to deny the existence of God. The liberal media of our day would have you believe that those who believe in God are fool. Quite to the contrary, the height of foolishness is to deny the existence of God. Atheism is nothing new but it is still true that "only a fool would say, "There is no God!" Let us never believe that God is not, say that God is not or live as if we believed that there is no God. Corruption and evil are the results of unbelief. "They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right." How could we truly be aware of God presence and His blessings in our life and still choose to live a corrupt life? God looks down from heaven to see if there is anyone who is wise enough to search for him. If we feel that there is no God watching us then our actions will be evil and filthy. An awareness of God keeps us from sin! We must remember that God sees us in our sin and holds us accountable for it. Often we just do not understand. We do not understand the seriousness of sin.

          Let the evil doers learn -- Psalm 14:4-6: David made a clear distinction between the evil doers and the people of God. The workers of iniquity have no knowledge. They do not learn. They "do not call on the LORD." The evil doers take advantage of the poor and confound their plans. In vivid contrast the righteous are in right standing with God and they have no fear of judgment. They call on the Lord in humble obedience. God's people are blessed with salvation or forgiveness of sins. There is so much evidence of God everywhere and His work is constantly seen in our lives. The day will come when those who had so boldly said "there is no God" will stand in terrible fear. However, the Lord is the safe refuge for His people.

          Salvation if from God -- Psalm 14:7: Psalm 14:7 says, "Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord shall restore the fortunes of His people, then Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad." David prayed for the Messiah to "come out of Zion." The only hope for the people was Jesus Christ coming to save them. It is through Jesus Christ that we can have peace with God. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1) The thought of salvation through Jesus should make us shout with joy. "When the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad." (Psalm 14:7) Salvation is the greatest gift that we could ever possess.