God's Triumph over God-Deniers (Psalm 14)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
4 February 2024
Atheists say there is no God. But there are not many such people around.
Most people do not orally say there is no God but they deny he is involved in human affairs. These are the God-deniers.
The psalms give examples of such deniers. In Psalm 94:7 the God-deniers say God does not see. In Psalm 3:2 they say there is no help from God. In Psalm 42:10 they mock believers. In the last days scoffers will come and mock the church (2 Peter 3:3).
God-deniers deny the providence of God. The Baptist and Westminster Confessions speak of God who upholds, directs, controls and governs all things. God-deniers do not see God involved in human affairs.
The psalmist describes God-deniers. They are corrupt. They are violent.
They are corrupt in their thoughts. There is evidence in creation of God. He has put eternity in the hearts of every human being (Eccles. 3:11). People are without excuse. But God-deniers suppress the knowledge of God in their hearts.
They are violent. They oppress and persecute believers. In Genesis 6:11 the earth is described as corrupt and filled with violence. The world is the same today. There is nothing new under the sun.
The Lord gives his verdict on Goddeniers. They are guilty. There is not one who does good, no, not one. The Lord looks upon the earth and finds no one is righteous, no not one. All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.
They are fools. This is to be understood theologically. People have become futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts are darkened.
They are ignorant. They do not see that God upholds his people. Despite what an unbelieving world may do to the church, the church is upheld by the hand of God. The God-deniers simply do not see this. They are ignorant. The psalmist laments this ignorance—“have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge…?”
The psalmist cries out for salvation. His cry has been answered. Jesus has come and revealed God to everyone. Jesus said the law, prophets and psalms speak of him. Psalm 14 is about Jesus. He is God’s response to God-deniers. Jesus redeems believers and rebukes unbelievers.
Believers, be assured of the Lord's care for you. Psalm 14 is for your comfort. You may be oppressed by God-deniers but you shall be strengthened by the fact that Jesus has come. No one can snatch you from the hand of the Saviour.
God-deniers, be aware of God's person and providence. Psalm 14 is given that you may see that Jesus is the Saviour of his people. The church exists because God exists. Do not be a God-denier but believe.