Cycles of Oppression and Deliverance in Israel
Why does God allow his people to suffer and be persecuted? Psalm 14 offers us hope. Psalm 14:1 is famous for the line, "Fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.'" This is also the verse often cited where the Lord looks down on mankind and sees that "there is no one who does good. All have gone astray." Evangelicals use the passage to point out that all mankind is compromised. No one can be good enough to earn their way into heaven, so we must rely on faith. However, the psalmist, allegedly King David according to the attribution headline, is expressing his immense frustration over the constant repression of righteous people by wicked unbelievers. Taken out of context, the verse sounds like all human beings are corrupt by genetic disposition ergo we all need redemption. Well, we are and we do, but that is not what the psalmist is referring to here. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. 3 All hav