Lenten Reflection Day 30

Theme: Psalm 53.

As we consider Psalm 53 we should be grieved by who we were and overwhelmed that God would choose to save us. We should also look at our world with new eyes and recognize that the only hope we can offer is the mercy and grace of God – no other solution is sufficient.

1The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;there is none who does good.

2God looks down from heavenon the children of manto see if there are any who understand,who seek after God.

3They have all fallen away;together they have become corrupt;there is none who does good,not even one.

4Have those who work evil no knowledge,who eat up my people as they eat bread,and do not call upon God?

5There they are, in great terror,where there is no terror!For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

6Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!When God restores the fortunes of his people,let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

What does Psalm chapter 53 mean?

This psalm opens with a declaration that "the fool" denies God's existence. The Hebrew word translated as "fool" in this verse is nā'bāl. This doesn't imply someone who is stupid or incapable. It means someone senseless, irrational, or lacking in wisdom. Even intelligent people can act like fools, and there is nothing more foolish than denying the very existence of God (Psalm 53:1).

The name used for "God" in this psalm is Elohim, the God of creation. This contrasts to other Old Testament passages which use the expression YHWH, sometimes transliterated as Jehovah, the covenant-keeping God. Those who deny the existence of their own creator are not only foolish but also corrupt. Immorality is not something reserved for atheists, of course. God observes the entire human race as wayward, corrupt, and void of meritorious good deeds (Psalm 53:2–3).

David notes that there are wicked ones who persecute God's people, but he realizes God will cause those evildoers to be destroyed. This psalm makes a strong point that God puts those who attack Him and His people to shame. Some scholars think this might be a vague prophecy about what God did to the Assyrian army that encamped around Jerusalem in the time of King Hezekiah. The depiction of God scattering bones evokes bodies being strewn around without burial—this is a graphic and potent warning about the eternal wrath of God (Psalm 53:4–5).

As David considers the rampant evil in the world, he longs for God to deliver Israel and establish His kingdom on earth. When God fulfills David's desire for the kingdom, Israel will experience great joy. According to prophecies in books such as Zechariah, this plea will be granted, someday (Psalm 53:6).

Rev Samuel Muwonge.