Day 82: Psalm 14- Refuge and restoration

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
 
3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. 4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? 5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 6 You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.
 
7 Oh, 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.
 
Meditation
Fortunes are being spent and lost in our current economic situation. Governments are spending trillions of dollars (that’s twelve zeros!) trying to save the economy and our jobless rate is soaring. How can we access the fortunes God has for His people during this storm?  Can we find true fortune, more than the fortune offered from the cookies from our culture?
 
The commentary on humanity in Psalm 14 reveals we have no fortune on our own. Without God’s intervention, on our own, as fallen creatures, our hearts live as if there is no true God and we do not seek good. (1) We turn aside from God’s design (3) and have no knowledge to call upon the Lord (4). We will use people for our gain, (4) exploiting even the poor. (5)
 
The fountainhead of fortune flows from the Lord alone. The Lord is sovereign over all, looking down on all people from His throne in Heaven (2) while also being present with the righteous (5). The Lord is a refuge for the poor (6), those who know they need Him, and by His grace He provides salvation. (7)
 
The Lord will restore the fortunes of those who look to Him in faith for refuge, finding salvation in Him alone. Ultimately this is revealed through Jesus Christ and our salvation from sin. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Practically this is lived out in our daily lives through refocusing our hearts on the fortunes of Heaven, storing our treasure in eternity. (Matthew 6:19-21)
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you looking on a horizontal level for the restoration of earthly fortune? How is that working for you?
 
-Psalm 14 repeats twice there is “no good” in humanity. Paul repeats this in Romans 3. What does that reveal about our need for grace?
 
-How can you turn to the Lord alone for refuge, practically, through refocusing your heart on the fortunes of Heaven given through salvation offered in Christ alone? How does this change the priorities of your day?
 
Key Verse
7 Oh 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.