Praying Psalm 14

 “Fools”  

What is the title of Psalm 14? To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Read Psalm 14:1

¹ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt/ruined/spoiled, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

Who is a fool?

No God (This is where it begins…) (1^st table: God relationship - Commandments 1,2,3)
Does bad things (How it is lived out) (2^nd table: Neighbor relationship - Commandments 4-10)

Read Psalm 14:2-3

² YHWH looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

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

 What does YHWH see?

Looking down – sees NO ONE!!
*READ Genesis 6 - God sees no one, except Noah
*READ Romans 1 - No one...

 Read 14:4

⁴ Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord?

What is David’s lament?

(1) No knowledge
(2) Eat people?? Devour, destroy others (2^nd table)
(3) Not call on YHWH (1^st table)

Read 14:5-6

⁵ There they are in great terror (Certainly dread), for God is with the generation of the righteous.
⁶ You (all) would shame the plans of the poor, for because YHWH is his refuge.

 How will it turn out?

They (v.5) & y’all (v.6) are FOOLS! = terror, shame the counsel
RIGHTEOUS – God is with, YHWH is refuge.

Read 14:7

⁷ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

What is David’s prayer?
Salvation from Zion – some thing OUTSIDE to save this unrighteous generation!
*Brainstorm what is Zion? mountain...temple...God's presence among his people...

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm/prayer?
Lament – fools
Description – judgment (righteous shamed, terror)
Plea for salvation – from Zion

How does Christ fulfill this psalm?
Salvation has come from Zion –  outside of our own actions - CHRIST has come, he is the righteous one that God looks down to see. But wait - does he see Christ? Yes, Those who are "clothed with the blood of Christ" or "Baptized into his death" - God sees Christ.

Cross refer

1. 1 Corinthians 1:22 : See Matt. 12:38
2. 1 Corinthians 1:23 : Gal. 5:11; See 1 Pet. 2:8
3. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : [1Cor 1:18]
4. 1 Corinthians 1:24 : 1Cor 1:30; Col. 2:3; [Luke 11:49]

How can we pray this?

No one is righteous, including US! (Romans 1, 3)
Romans 5:8 -  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Salvation from Zion)

WE PRAY:

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins, nor deny such petitions on account of them; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we pray, neither have we deserved them; but that He would grant them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much, and indeed deserve nothing but punishment. So will we verily, on our part, also heartily forgive and also readily do good to those who sin against us.