“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.” (Psalm 14:1 ESV).
David wrote this psalm to God’s covenant people to expose the spiritual condition behind human rebellion. He described the “fool” not as someone lacking intelligence but as one who had rejected God’s authority. David emphasized that this denial occurred “in the heart,” revealing an inner disposition of the will rather than a mere philosophical position. As a result of this heart-level rejection, corruption and moral decay followed, evidenced by deeds that flowed from a life lived as though God did not rule. David showed that denying God led to a failure to do true good, underscoring the pervasive nature of human sinfulness. This assessment aligned with the broader biblical witness later described by Paul in Romans 1 and 3. There, Paul explained that humanity suppresses the truth about God revealed in both creation and conscience. This suppression leaves all people guilty before God and in desperate need of His saving grace.
This verse confronts us with the uncomfortable truth that unbelief is often less about evidence and more about allegiance. We may claim intellectual objections, yet Scripture reveals that rejecting God begins in the heart. When we resist God’s authority, our thinking, desires, and actions inevitably follow. Even as believers, we must guard against practical atheism, living as though God’s presence, holiness, and lordship do not matter. Psalm 14:1 calls us to examine our hearts honestly and to confess any areas where we suppress God’s truth. It drives us to grace, reminding us that only through Christ can our corrupted hearts be renewed. In the end, this psalm reminds us that atheism is more a matter of the heart than the head.
PRAYER: Dear Father, search our hearts and expose any hidden resistance to Your authority. Thank You for revealing Yourself in creation, in conscience, and most clearly in Your Son. Renew our hearts by Your grace and help us live in joyful submission to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.