This psalm presents a gloomy view of humankind—a picture of “fools” who fail to acknowledge God’s reality and presence. It describes the foolishness of a life out of step with God’s purposes: perverse conduct with no accountability, a dearth of wisdom, and blatant disregard for the poor. The psalmist minces no words in cataloging the deeds of a life lived without the moral compass provided by divine guidance.
In their limited understanding of God’s nature, the Israelites apparently believe that being loved by God means God will favor them over others. But the concluding verses of Psalm 14 state unequivocally that God stands with the righteous and the poor. “The Lord is their refuge.”
This psalm offers a mirror to reflect the inconsistencies in our own lives. As functioning adults, we succumb to the need for self-sufficiency, control of our lives with limited regard for the welfare of others or God’s will in our attitudes and actions. Truth be told, we often exist in a state of “functional atheism”—a belief that it all depends on us. Actually, our hope lies in divine faithfulness. A God-centered life implies that we love what God loves, including those on the margins of society—the poor, the needy, the downtrodden.
Of course, like the psalmist, we long for deliverance from whatever dilemma we’re in. We can join in the hope that God will restore “the fortunes of his people.” No matter how callous our sinfulness or how dire our circumstances, our faithful God will help us pick up the pieces of whatever is broken. Like the Israelites, we can rejoice!