Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr.

Mocked but Not Forgotten: God’s Refuge in Psalm 14

• James Long

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Mocked but Not Forgotten: God’s Refuge in Psalm 14

When the world mocks your faith and godlessness seems to dominate, Psalm 14 reminds us that God sees, God knows, and God will act. In this episode, we explore how the righteous can find hope and refuge even in a culture that denies God’s presence.

Episode Highlights

  • The meaning of “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’”
  • How functional atheism is more common than we realize
  • God’s penetrating gaze on both the wicked and the faithful
  • Why moral corruption and spiritual blindness go hand in hand
  • The ultimate security of those who take refuge in the Lord
  • The coming terror for the wicked and the promised restoration for the righteous
  • How Psalm 14 ultimately points to Christ as the salvation from Zion

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ABOUT JAMES and LESSONS FOR LIFE

Are you seeking hope, wisdom, and practical solutions to life’s challenges? Dr. James Long, Jr., pastor, counselor, and professor with over 30 years of experience, helps people discover God’s solutions to emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. Each episode of Lessons for Life points you to the peace and freedom found in Jesus Christ.

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to Counseling Through the Psalms with James Long Jr, a special series from Lessons for Life. I'm James, and in each episode we will journey into the rich, honest and healing language of the Psalms to find hope, clarity and comfort for life's deepest struggles. Whether you're wrestling with anxiety, grief, anger or spiritual dryness, the Psalms offer us a path towards restoration and peace through God's Word. So, wherever you are right now, take a deep breath and let's enter into the heart of Scripture together. Hey, everyone, welcome back. It's James. Grab your Bible and a journal and we're going to be looking at Psalm 14 today.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 14 paints a sobering portrait of a world gone astray, a world where many live as if God doesn't exist. In the face of this denial, god reveals his unwavering refuge for the righteous and a coming day of great restoration. Discover the hope that anchors the faithful amid widespread foolishness. Well, the first section we'll be looking at today is the madness of godlessness. The opening line of Psalm 14 strikes with unfiltered boldness. The fool says in his heart there is no God verse 1. This is not merely a statement of intellectual disbelief. It is a window into the moral decay and spiritual delusion of the heart that refuses to acknowledge the presence, power and authority of the living God. The fool is not unintelligent. In Hebrew mindset, folly is not a matter of low IQ, but a heart bent on living as if God doesn't exist. The fool suppresses truth, resists conscience and embraces corruption. Their inner monologue is this no God. For me, this is a declaration of moral independence, a desire to escape accountability. But the rejection of God's authority doesn't lead to freedom. It spirals into a life of abominable deeds and moral rot.

Speaker 1:

Verse 1. This is not simply an ancient problem. It's a disease of every human heart. Apart from grace. We may not be vocal atheists, but how often do we live our days with little regard for God? How often do our choices reflect a functional atheism, an internal no-God whispered as we pursue our own desires over His? Romans 3 confirms the universal scope of this corruption. There is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3.10.

Speaker 1:

Left to ourselves, we all fall into spiritual madness. And yet Psalm 14 doesn't leave us in despair. It invites us to examine our hearts and to seek refuge in the one who is present with his people. God sees what the world ignores. Look what it says in verse 2. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man. This is not idle curiosity, this is divine scrutiny. Imagery recalls the days of Babel and Sodom, when God came down to see the corruption of the people. Here he bends low to examine human hearts. He's looking not for talent or appearance, but for understanding, for hearts that seek him. And what does he find? Not one. All have turned aside. Every path apart from him ends in the same place spiritual decay and distance. Watch what it says in verse 3. They have all turned aside. Together they have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.

Speaker 1:

This repetition is intentional. It underscores the severity of our depravity. This is total defection from goodness. And yet, while God sees the breadth of human rebellion, he also sees the small remnant who calls on his name In a world of God deniers, he sets his gaze upon those who trust in him. His eyes may scan the earth in grief, but they also rest with delight on his children. Earth in grief, but they also rest with delight on his children. This offers comfort to the faithful.

Speaker 1:

No-transcript. The God who searches hearts knows those who are his. He will not leave you to be swallowed up by the foolishness of this age, the arrogance and anguish of the wicked. The psalm shifts from divine evaluation to divine astonishment. Have they no knowledge of God? Verse 4. The evildoers devour God's people without hesitation, as naturally and mindlessly as they would eat bread. This is not merely cruelty, it's indifference. They are so spiritually numb that they destroy the faithful and never stop to consider the consequences. They live as if God is absent. They pray to no one. They are on the weak and mock those who make God their refuge Verse 6,. And yet their fear will come. It says in verse 5, there they are, in great terror. This is a terror of judgment. It may not be immediate, but it is inevitable. There is a deep dread in the heart of the fool, a dread that their worldview cannot explain away. One day, their denial will collapse under the weight of truth. God will not remain silent forever. He is with the generation of the righteous. He is the shelter of the afflicted. He sees those who seek him and he will act.

Speaker 1:

The longing for restoration, psalm 14, ends not with despair, but with a cry of hope. Watch what it says in verse 7. Oh that the salvation for Israel would come out of Zion. Says in verse 7, oh that the salvation for Israel would come out of Zion. This is not wishful thinking, it's prophetic longing. The psalmist aches for the day when God will restore his people, when righteousness will triumph over evil and when joy will replace shame. This longing finds its fulfillment in Christ. From Zion came a great deliverer, jesus the deliverer, the cornerstone, rejected by this world but precious in the sight of God. 1 Peter 2, verse 6. Through his death and resurrection, salvation has come, and one day that salvation will be fully revealed when Christ returns to judge the wicked and renew all things. Until then, we live with a holy ache. We grieve the foolishness of the world that denies God, but we don't lose heart. We wait for the day of gladness when Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad, not just ethnic Israel, but all the redeemed who have taken refuge in the Lord.

Speaker 1:

Here are the doctrinal insights that we find from this psalm. First, we see total depravity. Humanity, apart from God's grace, is entirely corrupt and incapable of doing true good. Romans, chapter 3, verses 10 through 12. Second, we see God's omniscience. The Lord sees every heart and judges righteously, verse 2. Third, we see divine judgment. A day of dread awaits those who reject God and oppress his people, verse 5. Fourth, we see God as refuge. He is the protector and shelter of the afflicted and righteous verse 6. And lastly, we see salvation through Zion. Deliverance comes through the Messiah, god's chosen Savior. That is found in verse 7 and also in 1 Peter, 2, verse 6.

Speaker 1:

Now let's put all that doctrine together and let's make it practical, practical theology for the struggling soul. When the world around you mocks your faith, remember you're not a fool for trusting in God. The real folly is living as if there were no God. Second, if you feel outnumbered, take heart. God sees his people. He searches for those who seek him. You are not overlooked. Third, when the wicked seem to prosper, know this. Their terror will come. God will not allow injustice to endure forever.

Speaker 1:

Next, are you burdened by the brokenness of the world? Cry out with the psalmist long for Zion and remember Jesus has already come. And then, lastly, if you feel ashamed or mocked for trusting in the Lord, cling to this truth the Lord is your refuge. He honors what the world despises. Well, let's reflect and respond. First, I want you to consider this In what ways do you see functional atheism in your own life, moments when you live as if there is no God, that he's not present or relevant?

Speaker 1:

Number two how does Psalm 14 shape your view of the world's brokenness and your calling to live faithfully within it? Number three what does it mean to seek after God in a culture that denies Him? Number four when have you experienced the world's contempt for your faith and how did you respond? Number five what fuels your hope in the midst of a corrupt and hostile world? Number six how might you pray for those who eat up God's people as if they eat bread? And number seven in what ways does the promise of restoration in Christ give you strength today?

Speaker 1:

Well, let's pray, father. Thank you for revealing yourself through the power of your word. Lord Jesus, thank you for being the fulfillment of every promise and anchor for every storm. Holy Spirit, guide us in deeper trust, lasting peace and transforming hope. Teach us to walk in your truth. Today, in your son's name, we pray amen. When the world mocks your faith, the world may call you foolish for trusting in God, but Psalm 14 reminds you that it is those who deny him that are truly blind. Hold fast. God is your refuge. He sees, he will not forget you. If you want to learn more about us, why don't you consider joining our free navigators level at Lessons for Life Community, at jameslongjrorg slash community for devotionals, meetups and training that can help you walk by faith or explore one of our full memberships at jameslongjrorg slash. Sign up now for deeper coaching and content designed to help you grow emotionally, relationally and spiritually wise. Well, just remember this you are not alone, you are seen and you are secure in him. Thanks for being with us. Till next time. Be blessed, take care.

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