Sharper Iron — Time in the Psalms: Atheism is Folly

Rev. Tim Eden, pastor at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bryan, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 14.

Psalm 14 teaches godly wisdom to all who have ears to hear. Folly rejects the one true God. Such folly may not be spoken outright, but the meditations of the heart as made manifest in actions that have no regard for God and His Word reveal the foolishness. St. Paul picks this thought up in Romans 3 and says that all people are lost in such foolishness in their original sin. Yet God has had mercy upon the children of man by sending His Son as a man. True wisdom, then, is to turn to the same God who has pointed out our foolishness and find in Him our salvation. Those who reject this one true God remain in their folly, even as they persecute those who look to Him for refuge. Yet those who have their righteousness in Christ are those who receive the salvation in Jesus for which they pray.

Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 14

The Fool Says, There Is No God

To the choirmaster. Of David.

14 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.

²The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,^[a]
who seek after God.

³They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.

⁴Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon the Lord?

⁵There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
⁶You would shame the plans of the poor,
but^[b] the Lord is his refuge.

⁷Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Footnotes

Psalm 14:2 Or that act wisely
Psalm 14:6 Or for

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).