READ: Ps. 53:1-9: … The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” … They are altogether corrupt … they have not called upon God … because God has rejected them … salvation from Zion … restores the captives of His people … Israel shall rejoice …
In many Psalms David mentions opposition and enmity that a believer experiences in his life on earth. It then concerns not only enemies outside God’s people but especially also within God’s people. Their behavior proceeds from sin, which lives in their heart.
Central in this stands the sin of denying God, as the God who gives all life and who requires from His creatures that they live for Him It may also be that one still assumes the existence of God, even goes to church, but in personal life does not live for God. (vs.2). But this is foolishness. In living this way one misses the content and purpose of life and that has terrible consequences: God shall reject them (vs.6).
That also raises the question: how is it with us as believers? Are we of ourselves better? David, just as in Psalm 14, now also speaks by the Spirit: that God from heaven establishes that there is no one who fears Him and does good (cf. Rom. 3:12). No one serves Him of himself. Therefore, everyone runs the danger of being lost forever in God’s judgment.
It is only grace in Christ that God chooses for Himself a people and gathers for Himself a church. He gives people faith in order to love and serve Him. While the wicked in their foolishness do not honor God, and precisely therefore shall be punished eternally, there need be no fear among believers, even in persecution for the faith (vs.6).
The victory does not belong to the wicked but precisely to those who serve the LORD. For the final judgment strikes the wicked, but for believers the LORD is a refuge. He brings salvation through His Son (Zion, where everything points to Christ, the cornerstone, 1 Pet. 2:6,7). Let us, just like David, continue always to pray for this, with the purpose of thanking and honoring the LORD forever for it (vs.7).
What does this Psalm say about our time?
Singing: Ps. 53:1,2,4,5