WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.240 So we go to the sermon text from Psalm 14. 00:00:04.219 --> 00:00:05.960 I forgot, I remember I forgot to introduce myself. 00:00:06.060 --> 00:00:06.759 I'm Chris Bradley. 00:00:07.379 --> 00:00:08.839 I'm one of the ruling elders here, 00:00:08.900 --> 00:00:11.919 and I'm here because the session has given Matthew the week off 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:14.859 to prepare an Advent series, which starts next week. 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:17.140 So we're taking a break from 1 Peter, 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:19.400 and before our Advent series, 00:00:19.500 --> 00:00:21.260 we'll be in the Psalms again for one week, 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:22.600 and it'll be Psalm 14. 00:00:23.100 --> 00:00:26.280 So if you open your worship guides or your Bible to Psalm 14, 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:28.000 and if you have your Bible next to you, 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:30.640 it would be good to turn forward to Romans 1 and 3, 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:32.579 because we'll be there too, all right? 00:00:33.619 --> 00:00:36.140 As we do that, let's open the Word of God 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:40.259 and hear what He has for us this morning from the Psalms. 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:47.039 Psalm 14, starting in verse 1, 00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:48.659 to the choir master of David. 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:51.679 The fool says in his heart, 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:52.799 there is no God. 00:00:53.539 --> 00:00:54.379 They are corrupt. 00:00:54.980 --> 00:00:56.359 They do abominable deeds. 00:00:56.359 --> 00:00:58.619 There is none who does good. 00:00:59.839 --> 00:01:02.460 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man 00:01:02.460 --> 00:01:04.359 to see if there are any who understand, 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:06.079 who seek after God. 00:01:06.939 --> 00:01:08.219 They have all turned aside. 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:10.039 Together they have become corrupt. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:12.239 There is no one who does good, 00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:13.700 not even one. 00:01:15.260 --> 00:01:16.260 Have they no knowledge, 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:18.599 all the evildoers who eat up my people 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:19.480 as they eat bread, 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:21.960 and do not call upon the name of the Lord? 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:24.539 There they are in great terror, 00:01:25.059 --> 00:01:27.399 for God is with the generation of the righteous. 00:01:28.739 --> 00:01:30.699 You would shame the plans of the poor, 00:01:31.059 --> 00:01:32.759 but the Lord is His refuge. 00:01:33.839 --> 00:01:36.579 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:39.159 when the Lord restores the fortunes of His people. 00:01:39.859 --> 00:01:40.819 Let Jacob rejoice. 00:01:41.339 --> 00:01:42.399 Let Israel be glad. 00:01:43.579 --> 00:01:45.959 And may the Lord add His blessing to the reading 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:47.879 and the careful hearing of His Word. 00:01:48.679 --> 00:01:49.000 Amen. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:49.079 Amen. 00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:52.540 So we've been in the Psalms before, 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:53.659 earlier in the summer, 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:57.319 and when Pastor Capone introduced the Psalms, 00:01:57.400 --> 00:01:58.719 he introduced types of Psalms, 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:01.540 and all the Psalms have one or more categories 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:02.359 that they'll fit into. 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:05.439 And this is a Psalm that fits into two categories, really. 00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:06.460 It's a Psalm of lament, 00:02:07.039 --> 00:02:08.080 and it's a Psalm of wisdom. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:10.819 We've talked about the Psalms of wisdom before. 00:02:10.979 --> 00:02:12.759 A Psalm of wisdom gives us answers to 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:15.319 what is wisdom and what is foolishness. 00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:17.359 And this Psalm, in particular, 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:20.120 describes the fool and contrasts him with God's people 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:21.340 who are called the righteous. 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:24.500 We are the righteous in the Psalms, God's people. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:26.599 And it's also a Psalm of lament. 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:27.799 A lament is a complaint 00:02:27.799 --> 00:02:29.840 that comes in brutally honest terms. 00:02:31.539 --> 00:02:33.620 Now, it's not just another word for a scripture, 00:02:33.959 --> 00:02:35.280 a piece of scripture that's a downer. 00:02:35.400 --> 00:02:36.919 That's not what lament is, really. 00:02:37.219 --> 00:02:38.879 It instructs us how to grieve. 00:02:39.139 --> 00:02:41.000 It is when we are down, when we are grieving, 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:42.500 that we can go to the Psalms, 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:44.860 and the Psalms are our instrument that God gives us 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:47.379 to grieve for the sin both in us 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:49.139 and for the sin around us. 00:02:49.580 --> 00:02:50.620 And it is both things. 00:02:51.219 --> 00:02:52.780 There is the sin in us that we grieve, 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:55.120 and there is the sin around us that we grieve. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:02:57.439 The question that's posed by the lament 00:02:57.439 --> 00:02:58.580 frequently in scripture is, 00:02:58.740 --> 00:02:59.400 how long, O Lord? 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:01.139 And though those words aren't in here, 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:02.699 in verse seven, that is the lament. 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:04.960 How long, O Lord, till you redeem Israel? 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:07.780 Now, before we go into it, 00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:09.099 we have to be honest at the outset 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:10.420 of how this Psalm strikes us, 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:12.659 because we are a culture that doesn't like to judge. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:16.179 We're a culture that doesn't like to call others foolish 00:03:16.179 --> 00:03:17.319 and call ourselves righteous. 00:03:17.859 --> 00:03:18.939 We talked about this a little bit 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:19.939 in Sunday school this morning. 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:22.599 Judgmentalism is almost the unforgivable sin 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:23.599 in our culture. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:25.459 But when we read Psalm 14, 00:03:25.579 --> 00:03:26.839 we see in pretty stark terms, 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:29.219 God contrasting the fool with the righteous. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:31.359 And what we're gonna be doing today 00:03:31.359 --> 00:03:32.560 is saying what scripture says, 00:03:32.739 --> 00:03:33.599 saying the same thing, 00:03:33.599 --> 00:03:37.119 confessing scripture about how fools act 00:03:37.119 --> 00:03:38.519 and how the righteous are to act. 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:41.320 Starting with verse one, 00:03:41.380 --> 00:03:42.620 the fool says in his heart, 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:43.980 there is no God. 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:46.140 So who is the fool, first of all? 00:03:46.200 --> 00:03:47.560 The Psalm is describing it for us. 00:03:47.600 --> 00:03:49.160 We find the term in the Bible frequently, 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.320 and we need to understand its meaning. 00:03:51.980 --> 00:03:52.879 We speak of fools 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:54.540 and speak of the term in a different way. 00:03:54.620 --> 00:03:57.000 We talk about stupid people or ignorant people, 00:03:57.240 --> 00:03:59.060 but that's not the meaning of the biblical word. 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:00.219 The fool is something different. 00:04:00.700 --> 00:04:02.740 The fool is ignorant, yes, ignorant of something, 00:04:03.200 --> 00:04:04.620 but he's more than that. 00:04:04.939 --> 00:04:05.879 The fool is evil. 00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:08.560 The fool is corrupt, 00:04:09.019 --> 00:04:09.979 like verse two says, 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:11.240 doing abominable deeds. 00:04:11.900 --> 00:04:12.859 A fool, in short, 00:04:13.199 --> 00:04:14.460 is someone who rejects wisdom. 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:15.699 And you look in the Proverbs 00:04:15.699 --> 00:04:16.680 to see that borne out. 00:04:17.060 --> 00:04:18.360 The fool is who rejects wisdom 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:19.860 for the sake of their own evil. 00:04:20.899 --> 00:04:22.439 It's not how we use the term 00:04:22.439 --> 00:04:23.980 when we wanna describe someone 00:04:23.980 --> 00:04:26.219 who has just this sort of benign ignorance. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:29.459 It's a word for someone 00:04:29.459 --> 00:04:31.920 who in their malevolent rejection of God 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:32.819 hates wisdom. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:34.019 That's the fool. 00:04:34.019 --> 00:04:36.799 And it's not something benign. 00:04:36.899 --> 00:04:38.240 The kingdom of God is under attack 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:40.019 by fools and their foolishness. 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:41.699 And this is what David's psalm was lamenting. 00:04:42.439 --> 00:04:43.439 Now, a word about language. 00:04:44.419 --> 00:04:45.839 Because kids, you have a role in this too. 00:04:45.919 --> 00:04:46.959 I'm gonna call on you in a minute. 00:04:47.359 --> 00:04:48.359 But one thing we have to say 00:04:48.359 --> 00:04:49.680 about the language we use 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.740 in this sermon and in the psalms, 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:54.819 because your parents may have told you 00:04:54.819 --> 00:04:55.819 not to call people fools, 00:04:56.019 --> 00:04:57.060 not to call people stupid. 00:04:57.500 --> 00:04:58.419 And that's good advice. 00:04:58.579 --> 00:04:59.419 Let's just say that first. 00:04:59.479 --> 00:05:01.459 That's good advice to all children. 00:05:01.659 --> 00:05:02.579 Don't call people fools. 00:05:02.579 --> 00:05:03.740 It's good advice for adults. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:05.000 Don't call people fools. 00:05:05.099 --> 00:05:06.399 But I'm gonna give you an exception today. 00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:07.359 And the exception is this. 00:05:07.699 --> 00:05:09.300 When the Bible calls someone a fool, 00:05:09.659 --> 00:05:11.099 we need to say the same thing. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:13.539 And that's good advice for you kids. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:14.860 It's good advice for us adults. 00:05:15.219 --> 00:05:16.680 When the Bible calls someone a fool, 00:05:16.979 --> 00:05:18.279 we should say the same thing. 00:05:19.240 --> 00:05:20.539 And the reason why you're not 00:05:20.539 --> 00:05:21.599 to use that word lightly, 00:05:21.799 --> 00:05:22.919 you're not to use it casually 00:05:22.919 --> 00:05:24.299 for someone you're angry with, 00:05:24.579 --> 00:05:25.799 is because the fool is someone 00:05:25.799 --> 00:05:26.959 who's condemned by God. 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:28.959 When you call someone a fool, 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.759 you're using the condemnation of God 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:33.879 and naming it among people. 00:05:34.799 --> 00:05:36.159 So we don't use that word lightly. 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:39.039 We don't call down God's condemnation on people. 00:05:39.659 --> 00:05:40.759 That's up to God alone. 00:05:41.579 --> 00:05:42.620 Jesus gives us an example. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:43.779 This is in Luke 9, 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:45.939 when the disciples are going through Samaria, 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:47.419 sharing the gospel with the Samarians, 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:48.339 and they're rejecting them. 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:50.039 And one of the disciples says, 00:05:50.399 --> 00:05:51.419 these were James and John, 00:05:51.459 --> 00:05:51.819 they said, 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:54.259 Lord, do you want us to call fire 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:56.180 to come down from heaven and consume them? 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:57.819 In other words, 00:05:57.920 --> 00:05:59.599 call down condemnation on these fools 00:05:59.599 --> 00:06:00.740 who were rejecting the gospel, 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:02.240 and Jesus rebuked them. 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:03.219 He said no. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:05.879 So why did Jesus rebuke his disciples here? 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:08.839 Because only God knows the time and place 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:10.199 for his judgment. 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:13.199 And that time was not the time and place. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:15.100 Jesus' ministry was not the time and place 00:06:15.100 --> 00:06:15.519 for judgment. 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.159 So we are not to call down judgment on others. 00:06:18.159 --> 00:06:19.560 But we are to say the same thing 00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:20.379 that scripture says. 00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:22.560 Romans 12 says, 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:24.139 Repay no one for evil for evil, 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:25.680 but give thought to what is honorable 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:26.579 in the sight of all. 00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:27.699 If possible, 00:06:28.219 --> 00:06:29.600 so far as it depends on you, 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:30.759 live peaceably with all. 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:31.779 Beloved, 00:06:31.879 --> 00:06:33.019 never avenge yourselves, 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:34.659 but leave it to the wrath of God. 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:35.360 For it is written, 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:36.839 Vengeance is mine. 00:06:37.159 --> 00:06:37.860 I will repay, 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:38.800 says the Lord. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:40.500 The calling of the Christian 00:06:40.500 --> 00:06:42.219 is to bear with foolishness, 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:43.600 to call it what it is, 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.560 but to bear with it 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:46.159 and not return evil for evil. 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:48.759 And so we don't use the word lightly, 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:50.759 but we must use it 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:51.839 when scripture does 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:54.019 because foolishness can't be ignored. 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:56.360 It's not something benign to be laughed at. 00:06:56.860 --> 00:06:58.079 It's a threat to God's people. 00:06:58.459 --> 00:06:59.539 It's a threat to God's kingdom. 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:01.659 As the psalmist tells us, 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:02.980 the threat of foolishness 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:04.579 is a real threat to the people of God 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:05.879 because God is concerned 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:07.659 with defending the defenseless 00:07:07.659 --> 00:07:08.500 and the weak. 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:11.120 And this is what the fool says in his heart. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:11.639 Verse one, 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:12.899 There is no God. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:15.599 Notice what the fool says. 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:17.340 It's not from his lips that he says 00:07:17.340 --> 00:07:18.260 there is no God. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:19.560 It's from his heart. 00:07:20.460 --> 00:07:22.780 So is the psalmist speaking of just atheists here? 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:24.580 I think the answer is no. 00:07:24.660 --> 00:07:25.640 We could include them 00:07:25.640 --> 00:07:27.040 under the rubric of a fool, 00:07:27.140 --> 00:07:29.040 but that's not who the psalmist David 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:29.800 is speaking of. 00:07:30.140 --> 00:07:31.700 It's not those atheists that say 00:07:31.700 --> 00:07:33.700 with their lips there is no God. 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:35.879 It's those who say it in their heart. 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:38.160 And what they're saying is, 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:40.240 there is no God who rules over me. 00:07:40.840 --> 00:07:42.340 That's the practical atheism. 00:07:42.339 --> 00:07:45.319 Even if it's not atheism professed with one's lips, 00:07:45.539 --> 00:07:46.859 it's the heart that says it. 00:07:47.359 --> 00:07:49.899 There is no God who is responsible for me, 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:51.060 who I am subject to. 00:07:51.979 --> 00:07:53.079 The denial of God 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:55.179 isn't necessarily a verbal denial 00:07:55.179 --> 00:07:57.979 of his existence or of atheism. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.519 Though that is what is unique 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:01.519 about our time in history. 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:04.059 There's a movement now in our culture 00:08:04.059 --> 00:08:05.279 called popular atheism. 00:08:05.539 --> 00:08:06.579 And there's a category for it 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:10.379 that the philosophers call it 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.859 rationalist atheism. 00:08:12.379 --> 00:08:13.240 All right, that's the category 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:15.080 that they describe it with. 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:16.560 A rationalist, 00:08:16.740 --> 00:08:17.360 by rationalist, 00:08:17.400 --> 00:08:18.280 I don't just mean rational. 00:08:18.400 --> 00:08:19.960 Rational just means using your own reason. 00:08:20.620 --> 00:08:21.400 And that's a good thing. 00:08:21.620 --> 00:08:22.980 It's a good thing to use your own reason. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:25.120 But a rationalist believes 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.240 that his own power of reasoning 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:29.560 is all he needs to arrive at the truth. 00:08:30.400 --> 00:08:31.980 He doesn't need an authority above him. 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.680 He just needs his own reason. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.840 That's the rationalist. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:36.360 And it's an intellectual trend 00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:37.360 that's only emerged recently. 00:08:37.460 --> 00:08:38.600 It would have been foreign to David. 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:40.460 There would be no atheist 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:42.019 who would speak such with their lips 00:08:42.019 --> 00:08:42.700 that would say, 00:08:42.800 --> 00:08:43.860 all I need is my own reason. 00:08:44.820 --> 00:08:45.820 That's a recent trend. 00:08:46.160 --> 00:08:47.420 It's the idea that you need nothing 00:08:47.420 --> 00:08:48.620 but your own reasoning power 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:50.460 to show that God does not exist. 00:08:51.160 --> 00:08:51.720 And as Christians, 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:53.120 we should see the problem with that. 00:08:53.900 --> 00:08:54.840 Because our rationalism 00:08:55.560 --> 00:08:56.639 doesn't factor in sin. 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:58.840 The fact that in our unrighteousness, 00:08:58.940 --> 00:08:59.860 we suppress the truth. 00:09:00.280 --> 00:09:02.060 So as much as our reasoning has power, 00:09:02.420 --> 00:09:03.060 it's deceived. 00:09:03.300 --> 00:09:04.639 Because in unrighteousness, 00:09:04.639 --> 00:09:05.639 we suppress the truth. 00:09:06.699 --> 00:09:07.919 So that means those who 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.439 outright deny God's existence, 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:10.799 the rationalist atheists, 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:12.740 they're just one special kind of fool. 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:14.919 But they do provide an example 00:09:14.919 --> 00:09:16.980 of when the foolishness of man 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:17.840 arrives at its peak. 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:20.379 Rationalist philosophers, for example, 00:09:20.419 --> 00:09:21.439 try to deal with this question. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.340 The question that philosophers deal with 00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:25.039 is what or why does anything 00:09:25.039 --> 00:09:26.259 in the world exist at all? 00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:27.799 Or put another way is 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:28.819 why is there something 00:09:28.819 --> 00:09:29.960 rather than nothing? 00:09:30.939 --> 00:09:31.600 And maybe some of you 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:32.419 have thought about this question. 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:33.459 Why is there something 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:34.579 rather than nothing? 00:09:35.179 --> 00:09:36.759 It poses a problem for the atheist. 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:39.079 But it's a simple question. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:40.699 And it has a simple answer. 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:42.039 And you kids 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:43.719 have learned this question 00:09:43.719 --> 00:09:44.679 and have learned this answer. 00:09:45.379 --> 00:09:46.079 I'm going to test this. 00:09:46.199 --> 00:09:46.620 I'm putting a, 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:48.019 I'm taking a risk here. 00:09:48.479 --> 00:09:49.479 But kids, when I say, 00:09:49.839 --> 00:09:50.539 who made you? 00:09:51.319 --> 00:09:52.159 What do you say? 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:54.539 Yeah. 00:09:55.059 --> 00:09:56.120 When I say, kids, 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:56.899 who made you? 00:09:58.719 --> 00:09:59.719 God made me. 00:10:00.059 --> 00:10:00.319 Right? 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:02.039 You kids know this 00:10:02.039 --> 00:10:03.079 and pay attention, church. 00:10:03.599 --> 00:10:04.599 It's from these lips 00:10:04.599 --> 00:10:06.019 that God has ordained praise. 00:10:06.699 --> 00:10:07.579 They understand 00:10:07.579 --> 00:10:08.459 the simple question 00:10:08.459 --> 00:10:09.699 and they understand 00:10:09.699 --> 00:10:10.779 they're wise enough 00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:11.679 to answer simply. 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:13.219 Why is there something 00:10:13.219 --> 00:10:13.939 rather than nothing? 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:15.000 Who made you? 00:10:15.579 --> 00:10:16.379 God made me. 00:10:17.439 --> 00:10:18.199 So take note. 00:10:19.159 --> 00:10:20.259 On the other hand, 00:10:20.659 --> 00:10:21.459 there are atheists 00:10:21.459 --> 00:10:22.639 who answer this way. 00:10:22.719 --> 00:10:23.240 They say, 00:10:23.500 --> 00:10:23.959 the question, 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:24.620 who made you, 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:25.519 is the wrong question. 00:10:25.959 --> 00:10:27.000 Because there's no who. 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:28.639 It's where did you come from? 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:29.860 That's the right question. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:31.519 And the answers 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:32.460 were from the universe. 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:34.200 And in one instant, 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:35.100 the universe exploded 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:35.639 from nothing. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:37.919 The stars, 00:10:38.060 --> 00:10:38.379 the planets, 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:39.220 life, energy, 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:39.940 everything, 00:10:40.060 --> 00:10:40.759 each one of them 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:42.419 created themselves 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:43.460 in effect. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:45.259 If you want a working 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:46.440 definition of foolishness, 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:46.980 it's this, 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:48.700 that there is no creator. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:50.360 That everything 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:51.419 just became 00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:52.460 of itself. 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:54.920 Now, kids, 00:10:55.019 --> 00:10:55.180 again, 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.180 if I taught you this, 00:10:56.899 --> 00:10:57.600 if I taught you 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.800 that the world you live in 00:10:58.800 --> 00:10:59.800 created itself, 00:11:00.940 --> 00:11:02.000 what does the Bible say 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:02.740 you ought to call me? 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:04.540 A fool. 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:07.340 We know this. 00:11:07.420 --> 00:11:08.399 We know this as children. 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:10.080 When someone says to you, 00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:10.879 there is no God. 00:11:11.620 --> 00:11:12.620 Everything that you are, 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.700 everything around you 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:14.820 just came to be. 00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:16.540 There's no God over you. 00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:17.399 There's no judge. 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.220 There's no father. 00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:20.300 This is where 00:11:20.300 --> 00:11:21.080 you use the words 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:21.460 of scripture. 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:22.720 And you say, 00:11:23.100 --> 00:11:23.720 you are a fool. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:25.440 That is foolish. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.800 And because you're Christians, 00:11:27.900 --> 00:11:28.480 you should say it 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.700 with gentleness and respect 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:30.640 or you shouldn't say it. 00:11:31.020 --> 00:11:31.240 Okay? 00:11:31.280 --> 00:11:32.200 That's also important. 00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:33.520 But from then on, 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:35.320 you ought to stop listening 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:36.920 because wisdom, 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:37.860 as the Bible says, 00:11:37.900 --> 00:11:38.820 is known by her fruits 00:11:38.820 --> 00:11:40.400 and a fool doesn't have them. 00:11:41.780 --> 00:11:42.680 This kind of fool 00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.480 will reject 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:44.360 the plainest knowledge 00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.060 that there is 00:11:45.060 --> 00:11:46.800 that all that's around us 00:11:46.800 --> 00:11:47.920 had to come from something 00:11:47.920 --> 00:11:49.100 or someone. 00:11:49.900 --> 00:11:50.900 Someone who is beyond 00:11:50.900 --> 00:11:51.380 all of it. 00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:52.580 Who isn't just matter. 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:53.940 Who is eternal 00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:55.080 and uncreated. 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:56.080 And kids, 00:11:56.140 --> 00:11:56.860 you're going to find this. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:57.980 You're going to find it in school, 00:11:58.180 --> 00:11:59.440 especially if you go to college. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.860 There are fools 00:12:00.860 --> 00:12:01.540 who teach you 00:12:01.540 --> 00:12:03.100 that you came from nothing. 00:12:05.180 --> 00:12:05.660 But, 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:07.460 are those atheists 00:12:07.460 --> 00:12:08.060 just stupid? 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.260 That is not true 00:12:10.260 --> 00:12:11.600 because there are 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:12.420 some very important 00:12:12.420 --> 00:12:13.400 and smart people 00:12:13.400 --> 00:12:14.560 who profess atheism. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.320 No, this foolishness 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.360 isn't stupidity. 00:12:17.420 --> 00:12:18.120 It's something worse. 00:12:18.660 --> 00:12:19.360 This foolishness 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:19.980 is the result 00:12:19.980 --> 00:12:20.440 of a heart 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:21.220 that hates God. 00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:24.120 Practical atheism 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.679 is what we call it. 00:12:26.220 --> 00:12:27.080 Practical atheism 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:28.060 is what caused Peter 00:12:28.060 --> 00:12:28.940 to deny Christ 00:12:28.940 --> 00:12:30.620 because he was ashamed of him. 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.080 Remember Peter 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:33.500 who confessed to Jesus, 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:34.919 you are the Christ, 00:12:35.039 --> 00:12:36.139 the son of the living God, 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:37.279 the believer 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:38.220 who then, 00:12:38.580 --> 00:12:39.179 weeks later, 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:41.580 when Jesus was on trial 00:12:41.580 --> 00:12:42.940 and Peter was recognized 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:43.679 as disciples, 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:44.139 he said, 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:44.879 I don't know him. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.179 That's practical atheism. 00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.340 And believers, 00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:49.460 like Peter, 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:50.460 are subject 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:51.680 to practical atheism. 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:53.500 A theologian 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:54.139 said it this way, 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.420 all sin 00:12:55.420 --> 00:12:56.120 is founded 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:57.560 in secret atheism. 00:12:58.780 --> 00:12:59.480 All sin 00:12:59.480 --> 00:12:59.879 is founded 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:01.240 in secret atheism. 00:13:01.900 --> 00:13:03.040 You see what that means. 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.240 It means that 00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:04.980 though you are a believer 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.440 in Christ 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:06.240 by the Holy Spirit, 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:07.639 you still have a heart 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:08.960 that secretly holds on 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:10.360 to its own atheism. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:12.460 It does that 00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:13.700 so that you can justify 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:14.460 your own lusts 00:13:15.040 --> 00:13:15.780 and follow 00:13:15.780 --> 00:13:16.720 your own temptations. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.759 and it's very clever 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:19.700 at doing it as well. 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:21.800 One of my favorite authors 00:13:21.800 --> 00:13:23.519 is Fyodor Dostoevsky, 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:24.180 a Russian author. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.600 And he said this, 00:13:25.660 --> 00:13:26.460 he took a take on 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.440 Mark 10, 27 00:13:27.440 --> 00:13:28.279 where Jesus said, 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:28.720 with God, 00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:29.620 all things are possible. 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.700 And Dostoevsky 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.759 recorded this ironically 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.279 and he said, 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.000 without God, 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:35.440 all things are possible. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:37.320 Do you see his meaning 00:13:37.320 --> 00:13:37.639 in that? 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:38.440 Without God, 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.220 all things are possible. 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:40.040 It means if you can 00:13:40.040 --> 00:13:41.080 just get rid of God, 00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:42.920 then you can do anything 00:13:42.920 --> 00:13:43.820 you set your heart on. 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:45.940 Because your heart 00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:46.680 will say anything 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:48.179 to give you an excuse 00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:49.120 to do what you want. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:51.419 The phrase might never 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.199 come to your lips, 00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:53.339 there is no God, 00:13:53.699 --> 00:13:54.739 but your heart 00:13:54.739 --> 00:13:55.579 will say it constantly. 00:13:57.019 --> 00:13:57.739 Without God, 00:13:58.299 --> 00:13:59.059 you can lie 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:00.179 for what we call 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:00.899 good reasons. 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.059 Without God, 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:03.599 you can follow 00:14:03.599 --> 00:14:04.759 your own lusts 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:05.739 wherever they lead you. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:07.579 Without God, 00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.179 you can live 00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:09.679 like you are the only person 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:10.859 that you are responsible to. 00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:13.199 Without God, 00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:14.299 you can justify murder. 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:16.959 And without God, 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:18.159 you are completely free 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:18.699 from judgment 00:14:18.699 --> 00:14:20.199 for all those things. 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:22.859 Then on the other hand, 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:23.659 the very idea 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.659 of a righteous God 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:26.240 would ruin your heart's liberty 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:26.939 to justify 00:14:26.939 --> 00:14:28.519 its own abominable deeds. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:31.399 So it's the latent atheism 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:32.179 within you, 00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:32.899 within us, 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.019 that says, 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:34.679 as you sin, 00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:35.620 it says, 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:36.279 I'll never be judged 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:36.740 for this. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.059 Or, 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:38.559 Christian, 00:14:38.959 --> 00:14:40.500 when you say in your heart, 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:41.740 God will forgive me 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.159 for this. 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:43.740 What is that 00:14:43.740 --> 00:14:45.019 but practical atheism? 00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:46.620 Though on your lips 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.159 you might say, 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:48.060 God will forgive me, 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:49.000 and that's true. 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:50.120 In your heart, 00:14:50.180 --> 00:14:50.580 you're doing it 00:14:50.580 --> 00:14:51.659 because you're rejecting God. 00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.299 You're denying 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:54.019 his holiness, 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:55.019 and you're denying 00:14:55.019 --> 00:14:55.440 the calling 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.500 that he put on you, 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:58.100 the name that he put on you 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:59.419 to live a holy life. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:00.799 And we rationalize 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:01.460 our own actions 00:15:01.460 --> 00:15:01.899 by saying, 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:02.680 God will forgive me 00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:03.080 for this. 00:15:05.879 --> 00:15:06.879 Our fool's heart 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.060 says there is no God 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:09.519 simply because 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.580 it's what we want 00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.060 to be true. 00:15:11.859 --> 00:15:13.139 There's no intellectual reason. 00:15:13.479 --> 00:15:14.379 It's just what we want 00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:14.859 to be true. 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:15.919 When a sinner 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.719 wants what's evil, 00:15:17.319 --> 00:15:18.319 he or she will always 00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:19.039 reject God 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:20.619 to justify their sin. 00:15:21.719 --> 00:15:22.779 That's why atheism 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:23.339 can exist. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.239 That's why 00:15:24.239 --> 00:15:25.500 Westminster Larger Catechism, 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:26.219 number 28, 00:15:26.339 --> 00:15:27.219 says the Lord sent 00:15:27.219 --> 00:15:28.259 strong delusions 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.639 because they rejected 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:30.119 the truth 00:15:30.119 --> 00:15:31.059 so that they would 00:15:31.059 --> 00:15:32.259 believe further lies. 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.619 Scripture gives us 00:15:34.619 --> 00:15:35.059 these words 00:15:35.059 --> 00:15:35.739 to remind us 00:15:35.739 --> 00:15:36.699 of the universality 00:15:36.699 --> 00:15:37.819 of that foolishness. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:38.979 Believer, 00:15:39.079 --> 00:15:39.500 unbeliever, 00:15:39.599 --> 00:15:39.739 Jew, 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:40.159 and Greek, 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:41.799 no one 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:42.379 seeks for good. 00:15:42.959 --> 00:15:43.819 It catches up 00:15:43.819 --> 00:15:44.500 all of humanity 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:45.079 in its net. 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.279 Now as we move 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:49.159 on to verse 4, 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.860 verses 4 to 6, 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.059 the Bible speaks 00:15:52.059 --> 00:15:52.740 of what it is 00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:54.279 that the fool 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:55.419 does to the people 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:55.899 of God, 00:15:56.219 --> 00:15:57.019 the kind of threat 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.620 that foolishness 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.240 is to the people 00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:58.679 of God. 00:15:59.079 --> 00:15:59.559 And he says, 00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.819 as if he puts 00:16:00.819 --> 00:16:01.159 the words 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:01.939 in the psalmist's lips, 00:16:02.079 --> 00:16:03.319 have they no knowledge, 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.600 all the evildoers 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:05.459 who eat up my people 00:16:05.459 --> 00:16:06.279 as they eat bread 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.079 and do not call 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:07.600 upon the name 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.079 of the Lord? 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:09.799 They are all 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:10.419 in great terror 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:11.159 for God is with 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:11.699 the generation 00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:12.299 of the righteous. 00:16:12.759 --> 00:16:13.360 You would shame 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.299 the plans of the poor 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.159 but the Lord 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:15.899 is his refuge. 00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:18.720 Here's what God 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.839 finds particularly grievous 00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:20.399 about the deeds 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:20.899 of the fool 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:21.879 or the one 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:22.899 who rejects God. 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:24.379 They eat up my people 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.419 as they eat bread, 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:25.919 he says, 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:26.839 and they do not 00:16:26.839 --> 00:16:27.539 call upon the name 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.019 of the Lord. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.439 How can they do this 00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:31.259 is what the psalmist 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.740 is asking. 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.480 Have they no knowledge? 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:35.080 It's words of shock. 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.899 How can you do this? 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:37.800 It's like you have 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.740 no knowledge at all. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:41.080 Have they no knowledge, 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:42.000 the psalmist asks. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.139 Or in other words, 00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.080 how is it possible 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:45.620 to be such fools 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.460 so consistently? 00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.460 It's like the reaction 00:16:49.460 --> 00:16:50.180 you have when you know 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.000 someone's about to do 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.220 something monumentally stupid. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.720 And we see this 00:16:53.720 --> 00:16:54.500 if you look at videos 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:54.980 on the internet. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.539 This is the way 00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.039 I think of it. 00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.399 When I look at a video 00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:57.860 on the internet 00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.539 and it starts with 00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:59.379 one of two things. 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.340 It starts with 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.360 someone on a skateboard 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:02.920 or someone lighting 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.579 a firecracker. 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:04.960 That tells you 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.879 something very stupid 00:17:05.879 --> 00:17:06.639 is about to happen. 00:17:07.659 --> 00:17:08.899 We've all seen this. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.319 And you say in your heart, 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:11.779 have they no knowledge? 00:17:12.399 --> 00:17:13.659 Are they not even thinking? 00:17:14.639 --> 00:17:15.460 And then what happens, 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.759 you watch the video unfold 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.420 and you watch it 00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:18.000 because it's going 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.480 to be funny. 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.099 That's why I got 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:19.599 on the internet. 00:17:20.639 --> 00:17:21.500 And you watch. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.480 But while you watch, 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.319 you think to yourself, 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.779 don't they think? 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.579 What made them think 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.440 this was a good idea? 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.279 Don't they know 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.019 what's going to happen? 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.860 So it is when God says, 00:17:36.080 --> 00:17:36.960 or that God says, 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:37.820 when someone decides 00:17:37.820 --> 00:17:38.860 to do something like 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:40.220 steal from the poor, 00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:42.640 and I'm thinking specifically 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.420 of payday lenders. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.720 They hang out 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:46.360 around military bases 00:17:46.360 --> 00:17:46.759 a lot 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.800 where they can charge 00:17:48.800 --> 00:17:51.060 36, 40% interest, 00:17:51.580 --> 00:17:53.380 up to 500% effective interest 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:54.140 for someone to bring 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:55.240 your pay stub in 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.000 so that you can get 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.340 an advance on your next paycheck 00:17:58.340 --> 00:17:59.080 while they take 00:17:59.080 --> 00:17:59.900 a third of it out. 00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:01.820 Why do they do that? 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.960 Because they've taken 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:03.900 so much money from you 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:04.440 that you have to 00:18:04.440 --> 00:18:05.060 come back again. 00:18:05.620 --> 00:18:06.420 And you get deeper 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:07.300 and deeper in debt. 00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:08.580 They take people 00:18:08.580 --> 00:18:09.340 who have a need 00:18:09.340 --> 00:18:11.519 and they sell them a loan 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:13.080 and plunge them into debt. 00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:15.080 They eat up my people 00:18:15.080 --> 00:18:16.300 as they eat bread, 00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:17.080 the Lord says. 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.720 They steal from the poor. 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.620 How can you do that? 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.700 How can you do that 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:24.360 and feel like it's okay? 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.880 You won't be judged. 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:30.820 Or the evildoers, 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:31.300 the fools, 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.580 trap vulnerable people 00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:33.060 in addiction. 00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.680 Think of gambling. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:35.780 Think of sex. 00:18:36.260 --> 00:18:36.860 Think of alcohol. 00:18:37.820 --> 00:18:38.900 We used to live in Las Vegas. 00:18:39.100 --> 00:18:40.200 You go to the casinos there 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.300 and they have ways 00:18:41.300 --> 00:18:41.920 of trapping you 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.960 into all three at once 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.700 because you'll go in there 00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:46.120 and all three will be present. 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.720 Gambling, alcohol, and sex 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.520 because they know 00:18:48.520 --> 00:18:49.700 you're likely to get trapped 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.680 by at least one of them. 00:18:51.300 --> 00:18:52.440 And they want to plunge you 00:18:52.440 --> 00:18:53.300 in your temptations. 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:55.079 They want to eat up 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:55.899 the people of God 00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:56.919 as they eat bread. 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:07.940 Or they could convince a woman 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:08.799 that she should claim 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.379 her reproductive rights 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.899 and destroy her child. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:13.980 That's atheism. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.379 You can't do that 00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:15.819 if you believe 00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:16.759 there's a God over you, 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.299 that there's a God 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:18.919 who will judge. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.299 When this happens, 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:23.259 the Lord says 00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:24.019 that these fools 00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:25.599 are eating up my people 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.919 as they eat bread. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:30.000 How can anyone be so shameless 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.539 is what the psalmist asks. 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.119 The psalmist asks, 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:34.159 have they no knowledge? 00:19:35.139 --> 00:19:35.799 How could anyone 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.799 so high-handedly 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.539 do these things 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.159 to men and women 00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:39.240 who belong to God? 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:40.740 Do they think 00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.539 that he doesn't see? 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:42.859 Do they think 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:43.659 that he doesn't care? 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.619 The problem is 00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:46.500 that the fool does know. 00:19:47.139 --> 00:19:48.399 It's not a knowledge problem. 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.279 It's a sin problem. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.720 The knowledge is there. 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.859 In verse 4, 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.579 we read it. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.980 All the evildoers 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.740 who eat up my people 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.460 as they eat bread 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.339 and do not call upon 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.160 the name of the Lord. 00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.980 As if the Lord is there, 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:02.079 the knowledge is there, 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:04.000 but they're not calling upon him. 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.500 God is holding 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.700 all humanity accountable 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:08.160 for calling upon 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:08.980 the name of the Lord. 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.519 The first chapter of Romans, 00:20:12.579 --> 00:20:12.980 if you'll turn 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.980 to your Bibles there, 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.180 Romans chapter 1, 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.039 and I'm going to read 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:17.220 verses 19 and 22. 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:19.059 The first chapter of Romans 00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:20.200 says that each of us, 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.620 whether we call ourselves 00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:22.799 believers or unbelievers, 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.440 we do know God 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.779 in an important sense. 00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.680 Not the sense of knowing him 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.839 as a savior necessarily, 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:30.160 but the sense of knowing him 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:30.860 as our creator. 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.140 And this is what 00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:33.160 Romans 1 tells us. 00:20:34.019 --> 00:20:34.620 Romans 1, 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:35.019 and I'll read 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:36.120 verses 19 to 22. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.880 Follow with me. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.759 For what can be known 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.240 about God 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.980 is plain to them, 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.539 and he speaks of the fool, 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.480 the one who suppresses 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:42.900 the truth, 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.500 because God has shown it 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:44.819 to them. 00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.779 For his invisible attributes, 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:48.500 namely his eternal power 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.159 and divine nature, 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:50.399 have been clearly perceived 00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.720 ever since the creation 00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:52.220 of the world 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:52.779 and the things 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:53.460 that have been made. 00:20:54.179 --> 00:20:55.439 So they are without excuse. 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.439 For although they knew God, 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.299 they did not honor him 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:58.740 as God 00:20:58.740 --> 00:20:59.819 or give thanks to him. 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:01.379 But they became futile 00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:01.919 in their thinking, 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:02.899 and their foolish hearts 00:21:02.899 --> 00:21:03.500 were darkened. 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.200 Claiming to be wise, 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:07.240 they became fools. 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.720 They knew God, 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.319 but they didn't call upon God. 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:13.799 And God is holding those accountable 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.939 for calling upon him. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.399 And he's holding those accountable 00:21:17.399 --> 00:21:18.359 for following him 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.700 and defending the defenseless, 00:21:20.179 --> 00:21:21.679 because that's who God cares for. 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:23.599 God is caring for the defenseless. 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:25.819 So though they knew God, 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.599 they were completely blind 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.039 to the fact 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.000 that there is a just God 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.359 in heaven. 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.919 Yes, knowing God, 00:21:32.179 --> 00:21:33.259 even having that knowledge, 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.319 they became fools 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:35.659 because of the evil 00:21:35.659 --> 00:21:36.759 that they wanted to follow. 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:39.179 This is a fearful psalm 00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:39.679 for the fool, 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:42.340 but even as it admonishes us 00:21:42.340 --> 00:21:43.100 for the foolishness 00:21:43.100 --> 00:21:44.460 that still lives in our hearts, 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.560 it's also a great comfort 00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:47.320 for God's people. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.880 Because though they are reckless 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:51.700 and shameless in their evil, 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.060 devouring people, 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.900 as the scripture says, 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:54.720 in a manner of speaking, 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:56.080 like it was their daily food, 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:57.279 God sees. 00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.460 God is not standing aloof. 00:22:00.980 --> 00:22:02.320 God will put an end to evil 00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:03.259 for the sake of his people. 00:22:03.560 --> 00:22:04.560 He isn't just watching, 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.900 aloof and uncaring. 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:09.000 What is God doing? 00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:10.860 God is watching judgment 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:12.640 pile up on evildoers 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.740 for his judgment, 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:16.240 his righteous judgment. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.500 Because what does it say 00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:18.220 in verse five? 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.900 God is with the generation 00:22:19.900 --> 00:22:20.460 of the righteous. 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:21.940 Who are the righteous? 00:22:23.540 --> 00:22:25.320 Own it, people of God. 00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.940 You are God's righteous 00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:28.140 if you are in Christ. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.080 Foolish as your heart is, 00:22:30.600 --> 00:22:31.560 you are God's righteous. 00:22:33.300 --> 00:22:34.360 Here's where the lament 00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:35.340 of scripture is so needed 00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:36.019 for God's people, 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.819 and that's right there 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:37.500 in verse five. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.359 For God is with the generation 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:39.920 of the righteous. 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:43.139 Among all the fools of humanity, 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:44.779 God has still called 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.720 to himself a people. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.619 And if you are a believer 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.259 in Christ, 00:22:48.980 --> 00:22:49.619 though you know 00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:50.700 your own foolishness, 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:52.819 you are also his righteous. 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.799 And we need Psalm 14 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.599 because we need to say 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.259 that to ourselves. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.039 Because we don't say 00:22:59.039 --> 00:22:59.680 that to ourselves. 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.139 We don't like to consider 00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:02.259 ourselves a holy huddle, 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.599 to be holier than thou 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.440 when we look at the world 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.080 around us. 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.720 But we need scripture 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.620 to say that to us, 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:09.259 that God is with the generation 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.779 of the righteous. 00:23:10.360 --> 00:23:11.500 And when I speak the psalm 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.559 in my lament, 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:13.759 when I speak the psalm 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.420 when I'm suffering 00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.320 for my own sin, 00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:16.240 when I'm suffering 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.220 from the sins of others, 00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:18.559 I need to look at the psalm 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:18.920 and say, 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.380 I am God's righteous 00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.720 and God is for me. 00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:24.759 And he will put an end 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.400 to evildoers. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:28.320 In the meantime, 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:29.800 we lament. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.280 We lament with the psalmist 00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:31.840 who says, 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:33.060 how long, O Lord? 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.259 That's the lament 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:34.700 of scripture. 00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:37.200 And it's in different words 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:37.980 here in verse 7. 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:39.620 The psalmist says, 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.480 oh, that salvation 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.580 for Israel would come 00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:42.180 out of Zion. 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.580 When the Lord restores 00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.120 the fortunes 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:44.680 of his people, 00:23:45.040 --> 00:23:45.940 let Jacob rejoice, 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.380 let Israel be glad. 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.519 When he says 00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:49.880 that the Lord 00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.780 will come from Zion, 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:51.880 he's meaning 00:23:51.880 --> 00:23:52.660 God's holy hill, 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.640 not necessarily 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.660 the physical location 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.140 of Zion 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:56.040 and present 00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:57.420 earthly Jerusalem, 00:23:57.860 --> 00:23:58.480 but God is going 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.340 to come from 00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.560 the capital of his kingdom, 00:24:01.020 --> 00:24:01.980 in this case from heaven, 00:24:02.520 --> 00:24:03.420 to rescue the righteous 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.540 and put an end 00:24:04.540 --> 00:24:05.259 to evildoers. 00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:06.780 And that should not 00:24:06.780 --> 00:24:07.560 terrify us 00:24:07.560 --> 00:24:09.100 because we are 00:24:09.100 --> 00:24:09.560 his righteous 00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:10.780 and we need to have 00:24:10.780 --> 00:24:11.600 confidence in that. 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.900 When we lament 00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:14.720 over our own sin 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:15.400 and we lament 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.500 over our own foolishness, 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:17.380 the word of God 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.300 has to have priority 00:24:18.300 --> 00:24:19.920 because we have 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.460 to call ourselves 00:24:20.460 --> 00:24:20.820 righteous 00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:21.700 when scripture 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.560 calls us righteous. 00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:23.560 Though we know 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:24.440 our own foolishness. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:25.940 So that's how 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.980 and why 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:28.200 we ought to lament, 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.700 particularly when we lament 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.980 with Psalm 14. 00:24:32.139 --> 00:24:33.119 Because when we do it 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.599 on our own, 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.720 we grieve on our own, 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.059 we lament on our own, 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:37.220 what do we do? 00:24:37.399 --> 00:24:38.619 We do one of two things. 00:24:39.099 --> 00:24:40.659 We either devolve 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:41.539 into self-pity 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:43.200 because we have 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.119 no hope for ourselves 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:46.200 or we absolve, 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:47.740 what's the word, 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.319 devolve 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:50.059 into self-righteousness 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:50.960 because we look 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:51.519 at all the sin 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.179 around us 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.279 and we call 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.920 ourselves better. 00:24:55.240 --> 00:24:55.960 We don't look 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:56.560 at the foolishness 00:24:56.560 --> 00:24:57.420 in our hearts, 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.360 we look at the foolishness 00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.960 in others 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.740 and we get self-righteous. 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.019 We could be 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.640 in self-pity 00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.720 as we lament 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:04.700 or we could be 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:05.840 in self-righteousness. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.100 Scripture doesn't allow 00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:08.140 either error to happen. 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.400 When we see the foolishness 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.539 of unbelief around us, 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.500 we are sometimes tempted 00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.539 just to wag our fingers 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.259 but then we look 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.620 at the words 00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.160 of the psalmist 00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:17.620 and he says, 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.620 when God looks from heaven 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.980 down on the children of man, 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:20.640 what does he see? 00:25:21.099 --> 00:25:21.620 No one. 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:23.640 No one who seeks for good. 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.039 And what does Paul say 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:25.960 that we read earlier 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:27.660 in the preparation 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.200 for worship 00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:29.000 in Romans 3? 00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.960 Jew and Gentile alike, 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.400 educated and uneducated, 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.460 professing atheist 00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.579 or professing believer, 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:36.779 all alike, 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.140 do not seek God. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:39.880 If we are to have 00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:40.360 any hope 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.279 to be saved, 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.400 it's not in our hope 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:44.400 of finding God, 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.700 it's in our hope 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:47.000 of God seeking us. 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.819 He is the one who seeks 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:50.220 and he's the only one 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:51.119 who seeks. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:53.240 Which is why David says 00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.859 in verse 7, 00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.319 oh, that salvation 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.440 for Israel would come 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.079 out of Zion. 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.940 It has to come from him 00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.900 because we don't seek him. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.099 When the Lord restores 00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:03.079 the fortunes of his people, 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.000 let Jacob rejoice 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.440 and let Israel be glad. 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.500 So when we lament 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.019 with the scriptures, 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.519 we're not given 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.539 the option of self-pity 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.500 and we're not given 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.660 the option of self-righteousness 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.539 because it wraps up 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.420 all men alike 00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.660 under the same umbrella 00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.279 of the fool 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.420 and it rescues 00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.600 God's people specifically 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:20.019 from the fool. 00:26:21.060 --> 00:26:21.740 God's spirit 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:22.220 takes away 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.140 our self-righteousness 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:24.600 and in its place, 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.560 he gives us hope 00:26:25.560 --> 00:26:26.340 in God's righteousness. 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.019 The Lord gave us 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.500 this psalm 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.400 as a lament 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:32.040 that his people can share. 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:33.320 When we follow 00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.160 scripture's laments, 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:35.519 we hear God 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.360 expressing words 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.000 assuring us 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:37.960 that he sympathizes 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.680 with our weaknesses 00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:40.160 and with our sufferings. 00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:42.480 Because, after all, 00:26:42.580 --> 00:26:43.259 God knows 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:43.900 what it's like 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.759 to be eaten up 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.759 by evildoers 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.440 like bread. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.580 Now, don't let those words 00:26:48.580 --> 00:26:49.380 escape your notice 00:26:49.380 --> 00:26:52.140 when they eat up 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:53.580 God's people 00:26:53.580 --> 00:26:54.700 as they eat bread. 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.820 That's what the evildoers 00:26:55.820 --> 00:26:56.640 are described as. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.860 Did that occur to you 00:26:57.860 --> 00:26:58.720 that we lament 00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.480 the evildoers 00:26:59.480 --> 00:27:00.300 who want to eat up 00:27:00.300 --> 00:27:00.820 God's people? 00:27:01.840 --> 00:27:02.940 Because God himself 00:27:02.940 --> 00:27:03.960 gave his body 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.960 as bread 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.360 to a people 00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.860 who previously hated him. 00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.560 I don't think 00:27:10.560 --> 00:27:10.960 those words 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.540 are an accident 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.680 when the psalmist 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.440 uses the metaphor 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:13.960 of bread 00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:15.399 because Jesus Christ 00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:16.359 was willingly 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:17.559 eaten up like bread 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.859 by fools 00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:20.000 who did not 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.839 call upon his name, 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:22.279 who did not seek him. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.879 He sought them out 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:25.359 and he gave us 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.000 the Lord's Supper 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.139 as a symbol 00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:29.639 of how he has sought us 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:31.019 and what it cost him 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.659 to seek us, 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.779 to bring people 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.460 who hated him 00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.259 into his kingdom. 00:27:35.899 --> 00:27:36.579 The symbol 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.119 of our communion 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:37.759 with Christ 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:39.460 is even given to us 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:39.940 in this picture, 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.519 that Christ 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.580 was eaten up 00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:42.080 like bread 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:43.100 for people 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:44.180 who in their foolishness 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:44.640 did not 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.480 call upon the Lord. 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:49.160 In fact, 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.059 this is the Lord's Supper. 00:27:50.500 --> 00:27:51.259 It's many things, 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.320 but one thing it is, 00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:53.200 it's God's people 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:53.640 remembering 00:27:53.640 --> 00:27:54.960 how we in our foolishness 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:56.420 ate up a just man 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.059 just like bread 00:27:57.059 --> 00:27:59.240 because God knows 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:00.220 that of this human race 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:01.320 on whom he looks 00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:01.980 down from heaven, 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.180 there is no one 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.900 who seeks for God, 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.000 no one 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.980 who does good. 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.080 Every one of those 00:28:09.079 --> 00:28:10.199 that God calls his, 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:11.759 they are his 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.379 because he sought 00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.000 them out himself. 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.919 The Lord is the one 00:28:14.919 --> 00:28:15.339 who seeks. 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.859 Before you were 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.460 sought by God, 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:18.059 all of you, 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:19.199 without exception, 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:20.539 whether you came 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:22.059 to faith as a child 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.699 or later in life, 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.339 all of you, 00:28:24.419 --> 00:28:24.980 without exception, 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:26.240 everyone were by nature 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.359 haters of God. 00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:29.899 Practical atheists, 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.460 we could say, 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:31.359 who don't say 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.079 there is no God 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:32.879 with their lips maybe, 00:28:33.199 --> 00:28:33.779 but they say it 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.339 in their hearts. 00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:35.819 Knowing God, 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.099 but pretending not to. 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.839 We pretend not to know God, 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.539 so we can follow 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.220 our lusts. 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.099 So for all us 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:45.059 who suffer with evil, 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.220 God sympathizes 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:48.459 because God did more. 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.339 He knows what we endured 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:51.579 because he endured it 00:28:51.579 --> 00:28:52.419 himself in Christ. 00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.319 He also knows 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:55.399 how powerless we are 00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:56.799 over our own foolishness, 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:58.539 which is why he gave us 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.359 wisdom from himself. 00:29:00.179 --> 00:29:01.059 He rescued us 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.779 from our foolishness, 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.919 not by making us smarter, 00:29:03.459 --> 00:29:04.240 but by giving us 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.879 the Holy Spirit, 00:29:05.419 --> 00:29:06.220 his Holy Spirit 00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.139 who enlightens us 00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:08.160 to know wisdom. 00:29:08.840 --> 00:29:09.680 And more important 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.400 than knowing wisdom, 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.460 loving wisdom. 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.520 He had to give us 00:29:13.520 --> 00:29:14.440 a heart to love wisdom 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.400 before we would 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:15.940 seek wisdom. 00:29:17.080 --> 00:29:18.400 So when we lament 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.400 with the words of Scripture, 00:29:19.520 --> 00:29:20.259 we lament rightly 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.140 and with hope. 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.120 And this kind of lament, 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.320 the lament in Psalm 14, 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:25.160 brings us nearer 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.640 to the gospel 00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.580 because it culminates 00:29:26.580 --> 00:29:27.160 in this hope 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:28.600 that salvation will come 00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.100 from Zion, 00:29:29.580 --> 00:29:30.600 from God's holy hill. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.920 We've seen the first fruits 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.980 of that salvation already 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:36.279 when Paul in Romans 11 writes 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:37.299 and he declares 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.220 what the psalmist says, 00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:39.259 the deliverer will come 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:39.759 from Zion, 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.620 he will banish ungodliness 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:42.180 from Jacob, 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:43.360 and this will be 00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:44.299 my covenant with them 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.319 when I take away 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:45.839 their sins. 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.099 That salvation is not 00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:48.740 just freedom 00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:50.180 from the evil around us, 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.420 though that is part 00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:51.940 of our freedom, 00:29:52.620 --> 00:29:53.220 it's the freedom 00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:54.420 from the evil within us. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:56.819 That when the psalm 00:29:56.819 --> 00:29:57.839 makes believers face 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:59.339 the practical atheism 00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:00.339 that's even in themselves, 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.819 what comes out of us 00:30:01.819 --> 00:30:03.000 is a lament for deliverance 00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:04.439 from our own evil 00:30:04.439 --> 00:30:06.039 finally and for good. 00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:08.099 And this God will do 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.500 because he promised 00:30:09.500 --> 00:30:10.539 that God is with 00:30:10.539 --> 00:30:11.119 the generation 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.079 of the righteous. 00:30:13.899 --> 00:30:14.659 Let's pray together. 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.439 Father in heaven, 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.480 it's you who teach us 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.339 through the Holy Spirit. 00:30:22.439 --> 00:30:23.419 So do that now 00:30:23.419 --> 00:30:24.079 as we reflect 00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:24.899 on this lament 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.559 from your word. 00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:27.700 Accept the pleas 00:30:27.700 --> 00:30:28.220 of the fools 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:28.939 that you saved 00:30:28.939 --> 00:30:29.700 and be pleased 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.279 with the feeble 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.279 attempt at obedience 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.519 that we're making 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.279 as we're inspired 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:34.099 to give it to you 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.559 and to give you glory. 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.619 And we do indeed 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.240 give you glory 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:39.480 as the one who sought us, 00:30:39.559 --> 00:30:40.879 the only one who sought us. 00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.920 When we of ourselves 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.839 wanted nothing else 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:44.779 to be free 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.759 from our sovereign king 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:46.240 and judge, 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.779 to follow our own desires, 00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:49.279 to follow our own rule, 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.460 you rescued us 00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.339 from our self-will. 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:53.579 Now keep us firmly 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.680 in your hand, 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:56.059 not allowing our foolish hearts 00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:57.099 to draw us away 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.599 from the love 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.200 that you showed us 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.660 in Christ. 00:30:58.660 --> 00:31:00.720 Now make the praises 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.480 we give in song 00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.560 now be pleasing to you 00:31:02.560 --> 00:31:03.220 as we repent 00:31:03.220 --> 00:31:05.019 and are assured 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:06.640 that you have called us 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:07.080 your righteous. 00:31:07.940 --> 00:31:08.940 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.019 Amen.