PSALM 14 “THE COMPANY OF THE RIGHTEOUS”

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
¹ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
² The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.
³ All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
⁴ Will evildoers never learn— those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the LORD?
⁵ There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous.
⁶ You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.
⁷ Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

The great divide among the people of the world is not that of righteousness before God. In God’s view all are unrighteous. As St. Paul (Romans 3:23) and the prophet Isaiah (53:6) have said, we have all gone astray and chosen our own way rather than God’s. So when it comes to our own righteousness it cannot serve as a measure of differentiation among the people of the world. The defining characteristic of the so-called righteous is that they believe in God as he has revealed himself. But this belief is more than hollow words. This is an acknowledgment of God as the sovereign Lord through the alignment of one’s will and life with the commands of God.

There are two classes of “fools.” First there are those who deny that there is a God. Second are those who, although they profess there is a God, live as if he does not exist. We may not fit into the first class of fool, but who among us can swear there are not moments in our lives when our attitudes and actions place us firmly in the second class?

Mercifully, the “company of the righteous” is constituted by those who constantly return to the Lord in repentance and seek his forgiveness. This is the community that is called by his Name and with which God has chosen to dwell. These are those who will experience God’s salvation – the community of repentant sinners who call upon the Lord. They know who God is and who they are not. They are no fools.

Lord God, as my tongue addresses you may my life acknowledge you as my sovereign Lord. Preserve me from a practical atheism that does not take you into account in all the decisions of my daily life. May I ever be guided and corrected by your Holy Spirit in all things. Amen.