Psalm 53

“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God” (1). As modern readers, we imagine “the fool” to be a radical atheist, but the psalm focuses more on the way people live as if God does not exist. “There is no one who does good, not even one” (3): no one persistently and always acts out of love for God and others (Romans 3:11). Just as the psalmist saw wicked people oppressing Israel’s poor, we often take care of our own needs even if others are left with nothing (4).

“Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!” (6). Out of Zion, Jesus the Messiah came to save us and to show us how to live.