S182P1 – Characters in the Psalms: the evil fool

Psa. 14:1-4

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”  They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.  The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.  They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.  Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the Lord?

David had experience with those who practiced evil.  His sufferings at the hand of King Saul are evidence of that.  David also would commit his own evil acts that are, to some, beyond comprehension.  When faced with evil that is dangerous and even deadly, there are several ways we can look at that evil.  While David was hiding from King Saul and all those who were seeking to take his life, that evil might have looked frightening.  It could have elicited great fear out of him.  Those who behave in such evil ways also might make us anxious or nervous.  Ultimately, when we put these kinds of emotions aside, we see what this evil really is at its heart, which is utter foolishness.

Corruption and abominations might turn our stomachs.  Murderous rage might make us want to run and hide.  Yet, we know that we are not to be fearful people.  This is because the great evil that surrounds us is nothing to fear.  Those who defy God and refuse to believe in him or worship him are not these strong, formidable figures they attempt to be.  They are merely fools, and we have no reason to fear fools.  They might cause us pain, but that is only for a moment.  They might steal from us, but they can take nothing that God cannot return.  We should not envy their apparent prosperity or what looks like great freedom to do as they desire without bounds.  We should pity them for their foolishness because it will lead to their doom.

We all know evil fools.  Most, if not all, of us have been evil fools ourselves.  We defied and denied God, but He has shown us the wisdom of coming to know him.  We very well might have to march like sheep to the slaughter just as our Savior, but we do that as He did.  We have compassion and understanding for the plight of the evil fools, and we pray for a change in them.  Wisdom lets us see past the smoke and mirrors to the foolish misery behind the evil.  It also gives us hope for the fools to gain knowledge and wisdom.  Father, help us to see the evil around us for what it is and to respond with faith, hope and prayer.