Psalm 14: The fool says in his heart (ftg. James Herring)

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A few years back we had a political mantra “education, education, education.” Yet we are seeing ever-increasing numbers of highly educated people whose learning seems to have brought no benefit for themselves or those around them. Their professors write books expounding atheism or humanism or other isms depending on the fashion of the day. But the world doesn’t seem to benefit; things often seem to get worse.

And this social trend, which has confused learning with wisdom, has even infected some churches. An old blues gospel singer of the 1920s once wrote a song called “Denomination Blues” which observed that sometimes all that going to theological college will do for someone whose heart hasn’t been renewed by Christ, is to make him an “educated fool.” In King David’s time there were fools who imagined there was no God. Today there are millions who give no thought to the God who gives them life, who looks down from Heaven and searches their hearts, as they live by the rules of their own philosophies and are driven by their transitory appetites. Sometimes they abuse others, ensnared as they are, in their own selfishness, calling lust love, greed profit, or even condoning violence. But however hard they try to ignore God, these evildoers will occasionally glimpse something to make them uncomfortable “in the company of the righteous”. During David’s time, it might have been the merciless warlord planning his next attack on the Israelites. During our time, it might be a political decision maker, conspiring to withdraw aid which will result in children starving in a developing country. But through all the generations, there will be moments when these godless fools are overwhelmed with dread. God loves the poor and oppressed. And now the Triune God has sprung forth from Zion and the restoration and renewal of his people has begun. We can indeed rejoice and be glad!