THE LORD LOOKS DOWN FROM HEAVEN

Passage: Psalms 14:1-7

Key verse: 2

NIV

Psalm 14(A)
For the director of music. Of David.

1 The fool[a] says in his heart,
    “There is no God.”(B)
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
    there is no one who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven(C)
    on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(D)
    any who seek God.(E)
3 All have turned away,(F) all have become corrupt;(G)
    there is no one who does good,(H)
    not even one.(I)

4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?(J)

They devour my people(K) as though eating bread;
    they never call on the Lord.(L)
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
    for God is present in the company of the righteous.
6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
    but the Lord is their refuge.(M)

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!(N)
    When the Lord restores(O) his people,
    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 14:1 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Psalms denote one who is morally deficient.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14 (A)The (B)fool says in his heart, (C)“There is no God.”
    They are (D)corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
    (E)there is none who does good.

2 The Lord (F)looks down from heaven on the children of man,
    to see if there are any who understand,[a]
    who (G)seek after God.

3 They have all turned aside; together they have become (H)corrupt;
    there is none who does good,
    not even one.

4 Have they no (I)knowledge, all the evildoers
    who (J)eat up my people as they eat bread
    and (K)do not call upon the Lord?

5 There they are in great terror,
    for God is with (L)the generation of the righteous.
6 You would shame the plans of the poor,
    but[b] the Lord is his (M)refuge.

7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When the Lord (N)restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 14:2 Or that act wisely
  2. Psalm 14:6 Or for
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The heart of a fool (1-3)

The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' When a man wants to do as he pleases, and live according to his sinful nature and do vile deeds, he tries to avoid God by saying, 'There is no God.' But this is foolish. Saying that there is no God doesn't change the fact that God looks down from heaven on all the activities of man. And God sees the heart. He continually looks for those who seek God, for he wants to strengthen their hearts and bless them. Those who seek God with all their hearts are wise.

2. God is present with the righteous (4-7)

Evildoers devour God's people as a man eats bread. They do not call on the Lord. Such people will be dismayed and overwhelmed when they confront the living God. God's people long for God's presence, and rejoice in him.

Prayer: Lord, when you look down from heaven, seeking those who seek you, look upon me. Grant that I may not be a fool.

One Word: Seek God; don't be a fool