There are many practical atheists around us. We might actually be one. A practical atheist is someone who in everyday life lives as if the LORD wasn’t really present, didn’t really know or care, and who doesn’t have influence on current decisions and life choices. The practical atheist makes their own choices, runs their own life. They might state their belief in God, but then live in a way that leaves no space in which the LORD can move. There are lots of church going people who are practical atheists.
Our Psalmist gives a label to practical atheists. He calls them fools. For a fool doesn’t bother to gather the needed information about the LORD and our responses to Him. They live their lives as if the LORD didn’t exist, as if He didn’t have authority over their decisions. They might say one thing and do another. They might say the LORD exists with their mouth, but their hearts are saying something very different. And we haven’t invented a machine to read the heart, yet.
So when the LORD looks down on the earth at this group of fools, people who aren’t after understanding and aren’t seeking Him, the LORD finds chaos. In this group, everyone has turned away from the truth. Corruption is the standard and doing good is not the accepted choice. Evil is characteristic of this bunch. No one in this bunch seeks God.
It is this group of people who attack the LORD’s people and have no regard for them. They stand in the way of what His people want to do. They take advantage of the poor and needy. And when they come face to face with God’s presence, they are filled with regrets. They realize they have been on the wrong side, but remain on the wrong side.
It would be wrong to interpret this Psalm as saying that no one on earth seeks God. The writer of the Psalm was obviously seeking Him. But in this group of fools there is an absence of humility. They do things as if the LORD didn’t matter.
Our writer wants the LORD to raise up a solution from within Israel. He wants a savior from Jerusalem. He wants the LORD to show up and bring restoration in a way that restores the joy in His people.
What are you doing that demonstrates your active trust in the LORD in your daily life? What would people see if they watched you that would reveal your heart’s direction and intent? What would they see if they could listen in on your heart?
The Arnold Journey 