This was one of my FAV Today in the Word Devotionals. I don't remember the date. I saved it on my blog in September of last year. Just now publishing it.
Read: Psalm 53
TODAY IN THE WORD
For decades, philosopher Anthony Flew argued that religious beliefs could not meet modern, scientific criteria for rational acceptance. But in 2004, at age 81, he changed his mind. The complexity of DNA convinced him that "intelligence must have been involved" in the design and creation of life. Flew is now a deist not a theist, since he sees "God" as distant and "utterly uninvolved in the lives of human beings." Though he remains far from Christian faith, it is encouraging to see that the available evidence can persuade even the most ardent atheist that some sort of God must exist.
Only a fool, wrote David, would believe there is no God (v. 1). Faithlessness is foolishness, and such foolishness is evil, "corrupt" like rotten fruit. On our own, in fact, no one seeks God or does right (vv. 2—3), an idea that today we call the doctrine of original sin. This means that even if people are not avowed atheists like Anthony Flew, they tend to be "practical atheists," living as if there were no God and as if they were the center of the universe.
Will evildoers never learn (vv. 4—5)? Not only does God exist but He acts on behalf of His people. Those who attack God's people are always defeated in the end. The righteous have nothing to fear, for God is fighting on their behalf. The godless who thought no "God" would come to the rescue were colossally wrong! The psalm ends with a prayer that all this will happen soon (v. 6).
Psalm 53 is probably a revised version of Psalm 14 (only verses 5b—6 are different). But Psalm 53 uses the past tense, indicating an even stronger expression of faith. It is a powerful encouragement to the godly: Things might look bad, the wicked might appear to be doing as they please, but there's no reason to worry or fear. God will win the victory!
