Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 14 – 5-12-20
No one likes to be characterized as a fool. No one likes to admit that he/she is totally under the control of sin and falls short of God’s standards. Psalms 14 is a reminder that left to our own choice and will, we choose sin and rebel against God. We do not have the power in ourselves to meet God’s standard of perfect holiness. One Bible tract I sometimes use says, saying that I can meet God’s standards is like trying to throw a rock across the ocean in order to get into heaven. You may be able to throw it far, but you will never throw it across the ocean. We are fools is we think that we can just not believe or seek after God and not pay the consequences. If God is a Righteous Judge, He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. The definition of sin is anything that falls short of God’s perfection in act attitude or will. I am a sinner in need of God’s mercy and grace provided in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection bringing the Atoning Sacrifice for my sin. He paid the price for my sin, and by faith and trust in Him, I can know that God has accepted me in Christ.(John 1:12)
Back to the connection of Psalms 14 and the message of the Gospel in all of Scripture. This Psalm reminds me of man’s Total Depravity. In other words, how utterly we are lost in sin outside of Christ. There is truly none righteous! I can hear it now, there are lots of good people out there. I am reminded of an example. Let’s say I made a pan of brownies to share with everyone, and I only put a pinch of cyanide in the batter. What part would you be willing to eat? What if I thought that only a few of the brownies were affected? That is what sin is in the hearts and lives of every person. It literally physically and spiritually causes death. The only answer is Jesus life giving blood, that took the poison of sin for me. God has to righteously judge all sin.(vs. 4-5)
Praise God we can know that God is on the side of the righteous. He will be our Refuge because His Son came to give me Life Eternal.(vs. 6) I can pray like David, even so come quickly Lord Jesus and set this old sinful world straight!
Father, may I never forget that I am a foolish sinner except for the Grace, Truth, and life provided by Your Son. I have no power in and of myself to live and act righteously. Thank you for placing Your Holy Spirit within me, empowering me to live in Christ’s righteousness. In Jesus Name, Amen. Pastor Rob