I wonder at what point of his life David wrote this psalm. Perhaps in response to the foolish actions of people around him that we’ve seen through this series in 2 Samuel. Foolishness in the Old Testament doesn’t signify a low IQ. It depicts the person who thinks they know better than God and deliberately chooses to ignore his ways. It can also describe the person who lies to themself about the reality of God – telling themself that he doesn’t exist (v 1), though their conscience knows different. 

Paul develops this theme in Romans and quotes today’s psalm in Romans 3, emphasising that no one is righteous (v 1), no one has ever got it all together, no one ever has nor ever will be able to claim that they meet God’s standards, God’s law. Sometimes it seems people who do wrong in this life reap rewards, but God sees all (v 2), and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (compare Hebrews 10:31; v 5). 

The bad news for me is that I’m foolish. I frequently think I know better than God, seen in my thoughts and actions. But thank God for the good news! That salvation has come ‘out of Zion’ (v 6). Jesus not only saves me but is to me the wisdom and the power of God (see 1 Corinthians 1:24).

Lord, open my heart to the truth within. Open my eyes and teach me today how to trust you in a deeper, unseen yet assured way. Amen.

I often dread the thing that never happens (v 5)! Ultimately, what do we fear: life after death, life without God? Calvary covers them all. David did not know that, but he still saw the day of rejoicing and salvation coming. This psalm no doubt identifies with those who should have known better yet turned from God with flagrant disregard (v 4)! How often I say (without actually saying it), ‘There is no God’. My sinful acts are a disregard of God, unlikely to be performed were he fully visible before me. My dismissal of his voice is blatant denial of his presence. 

For David, living amongst those with constant antagonism towards God was hard, as though ‘everyone has turned away’ (v 3) and no one was left. How easy it is to be like Elisha’s servant, seeing only the army which is against us. Yet, as Elisha said, ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’¹ Today we still feel this, as though everyone has rejected God and we walk alone. We, too, must be wary of exaggerated generalisations – ‘no one cares’, ‘everyone in church’ thinks this or that – and of self-prominence or self-victimisation. Fact: God is Most High and therefore sees all (v 2) and he acts accordingly. David’s prayer is heard and answered: ‘Oh, that salvation … would come out of Zion!’ (v 6). Jesus Christ has come and is coming, as Scripture rejoices: ‘Daughter Zion … See, your king comes to you’.² So, rejoice, be glad, say and fear what you will, but be aware – only the fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’ (v 1). Maybe not instantly, or in the way we expect, but Israel will rejoice, as will Jacob, as God hears and the cry (v 6) is answered. 

Beware of the enemy’s ploy – to say ‘there is no God’. God is victorious; everything is his and under his authority. We rest in that blessed assurance. 

¹ 2 Kings 6:16  ² Matt 21:5; see also Zech 9:9