by Rev. Alex. McPherson
(continued from page 235)
PSALM FIFTY-THREE
Verse 1. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.”
This Psalm is almost a repetition of Ps. 14, and perhaps Paul’s weighty passage in Rom. 3, v. 10-18 supplies the reason. There writing in the most forthright manner concerning the universality of human depravity, the apostle quotes the trenchant denunciation of the natural man with which both Psalms commence. The repetition is a way of emphasising the sad but important truth that all men without exception are wicked at heart in their natural state.
But the fool is mentioned first. In Scripture the fool is not merely the stupid, unwise person, but the man who is obstinately and perversely wicked. The atheist is a fool, whether his atheism be of the speculative or practical sort, he is wicked who deliberately leaves God out of all his calculations. Some say openly, “No God!” and embrace a materialistic philosophy. Others on occasions say, “Lord, Lord,” but do not do the things which God commands. They live as if no eye was upon them, and as if there were to be no reckoning for sin that they have done.
See now the sort of people which atheism makes them; “Corrupt are they, etc.” Masquerading as agnostics and humanists, atheists infest every department of our national life. They have been active in pushing all those iniquitous bills on matters like homosexuality, abortion, divorce, Sunday entertainments, etc., which have brought deep-dyed stains of guilt on the career of the present parliament. The aim of these people is to destroy the Christian character of the nation; their activity amounts to a determined serving of ungodly lusts and Satan. The verse emphasises the fact that sooner or later atheistical principles work themselves out in iniquitous behaviour.
Verse 2. “God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.”
From the height of divine omniscience and holiness God has constantly surveyed men on earth with the invariable result that He saw none who by nature understood the truth about God and themselves so as to set them seeking His mercy in the way He Himself has appointed. The entire history of heathenism shows men in their millions troubled by their sin and their misery, but so far out in their understanding of their case that God’s way of salvation found no favour with them; rather the opposite. The same is true of those in Christian lands who have rejected the Scriptures with their full revelation of divine grace. The result of all their thinking about their defects and ills has been the application of medicinal, economic, social and psychiatric treatment, with no success. The seeking of pardon, reconciliation and spiritual renewal through Christ does not occur to them. They rank Biblical Christianity as foolishness.
Verse 3. “Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
Instead of seeking God, they depart further from Him, becoming morally filthy in the process. No-one need look beyond Britain in our own time to see the absolute truth of this. Every retrograde step in religion is matched by advances in immorality.
Verse 4. “Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.”
Here it becomes apparent that David has been thinking especially about the heathen in describing the wickedness of man’s nature. Certainly the Israelites were no better naturally, but their religion taught them this, restrained them to a great extent, and presented God to their minds as at once holy and sin-pardoning. The heathen, on the other hand, were so ignorant of spiritual matters that they did not even know that God hates iniquity. In what a lurid light does sin appear as shown in the behaviour of the heathen nations in David’s day! Philistia, Ammon, Moab, Edom, Syria, etc., what lives they lived! what atrocities they committed! and what incurable hatred they bore to God’s chosen people among whom He dwelt! Repeatedly they attempted to destroy them, yet had no success. What hindered them? They did not seek God’s help, did not call upon the God concerning whom they said, “No God!”
We have brought before us here the secret of the ultimate failure of every wicked project formed in atheistical hearts. They treat God as non-existent and therefore do not pray to Him whose power alone would enable them to achieve their ends. But then His power is not exerted contrary to His will, and therefore can never be exerted against His own Israel. By His servant Moses He said, “The Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” Had the heathen known God they would not have sought to destroy His people. Anyone who knows God cannot pray for evil to be done. It is a characteristic of true prayer that it seeks true good, making its discoveries of what that is from God’s holy Word.
Let us be in no doubt as to the evil tendency of all atheism, within and beyond the borders of our land, by whatever name it may be called. It is against God and all that is His — people, Word, worship, law, Church and Sabbath. But it is a hopeless task which this evil-minded body of men are engaged in. “They have not called upon God.” They do not because they disbelieve in Him. On the other hand, God’s people pray, as we see in the last verse. They pray and He hears them.
Verse 5. “There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.”
In prophecy David sees the outcomes of these attacks upon God’s people. Fear will invade men’s hearts. They will run when no man pursueth, but when God does assert his might, they shall die and their bones shall bear mute witness to their folly in opposing God. One hundred and eighty-five thousand of one of the cruellest, most wicked nations of antiquity died outside the walls of Jerusalem. (2 Kings 19 : 35).
Verse 6. “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall sing.”
Here is a longing for Zion’s God and King to bring to an end the long persecution of His people. It will be a great day when the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest. Is this one of your prayers? Do you know what inward corruption and a continual tendency to evil-doing is, so that the salvation of God in Christ is your only hope, and your look is constantly to the blood which cleanseth from all sin, and to the Holy Spirit whose power alone can quicken and sanctify?
Have you any experience of the world’s enmity to yourself because of Christ and the Gospel? Have you confidence in God’s will and ability to plead His own cause? Do you look forward to the rest that remaineth for the people of God, and to the final triumph of Christ over all adversaries?