A few texts relevant to preparing a sermon on Psalm 53 (or Psalm 14).
From http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gsmunro/resource.htm
G.S. Munro. Panania-Milperra Anglican Church, Jan 24, 1999.
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Psalm 53 |
Psalm 14 |
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For the director of music. According to mahalath. 1 A maskil of David. The fool says in his heart, ‘‘There is no God." 2 God looks down from heaven on the sons of men 3 Everyone has turned away, 4 Will the evildoers never learn— 5 There they were, overwhelmed with dread, 6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
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For the director of music. Of David.
1 The fool says in his heart, ‘‘There is no God." 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men 3 All have turned aside, 4 Will evildoers never learn— 5 There they are, overwhelmed with dread, 6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
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Some Proverbs that talk about characteristics of the Fool (Heb. nawbale):
12: 15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
12: 16 A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
12:23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.
18: 7 A fool’s mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
26:3-12
3 A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,
and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you will be like him yourself.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence
is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Some other Psalms that mention fools (NBLM) -
Psalm 74: 18,22
Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD,
how foolish people have reviled your name.
22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools mock you all day long.
Psalm 94
1 O LORD, the God who avenges,
O God who avenges, shine forth.
2 Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
pay back to the proud what they deserve.
3 How long will the wicked, O LORD,
how long will the wicked be jubilant?
4 They pour out arrogant words;
all the evildoers are full of boasting.
5 They crush your people, O LORD;
they oppress your inheritance.
6 They slay the widow and the alien;
they murder the fatherless.
7 They say, ‘‘The LORD does not see;
the God of Jacob pays no heed."
8 Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
9 Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?
11 The LORD knows the thoughts of man;
he knows that they are futile.
Psalm 107:17-22 - this passage shows that the Fool can repent -
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Eccles 5: 5 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2 Samuel 24:10 - David confesses to God, "I have done a very foolish thing." (re census - this shows 'folly' includes acts that spring from lack of faith)Jer 29:23 - 'foolish' things include adultery, etc
2 Samuel 13:10-14 - the rape of Tamar a 'foolish' act:
10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, ‘‘Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. 11 But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, ‘‘Come to bed with me, my sister."
12 ‘‘Don’t, my brother!" she said to him. ‘‘Don’t force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. 13 What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you." 14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.
Matt 5: 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Luke 12: 20 ‘‘But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 ‘‘This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
1 John 4 - the 'wise' lifestyle - opposite of being a Fool.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Other notes:
1 Corinthians 1 - Christ & his followers seen as foolish to the world.
Jesus' parable of the two builders - the Wise Man built on the Rock, the Foolish Man on the sand. (Matt 7:21-29)
Psalm 53:5 - cf Prov 28:1
Fear - death
1 John 4: 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.