The Existence of God

Charnock begins his first discourse using Psalm 14:1 as his text: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good."

He breaks the first half of the verse into its three components.

1) The fool--this denotes a wicked man. Folly in Hebrew thought is a moral designation, not chiefly an intellectual characterization, although certainly a fool's thoughts are often intellectually substandard. The word is related to the Hebrew for used-up, dry and barren, lifeless, like a plant that's lost its sap. The fool not so much lacks reason as abuses it.

2) Says in his heart--his thoughts expressed secretly and not openly. The fool wishes God were not, he hopes there is no God. Again, this is not so much a matter of rationality but of volition, and brings to mind Paul's declaration in Romans 1 that the wicked will not acknowledge and submit to the truth of God and will not give him his rightful due. I have read contemporary (meaning 21st century) atheists express something very similar. They don't want the universe to be that way, meaning that they like or prefer the universe without God.

3) There is no God--here meaning God as judge and ruler, God in his providence. The fool is not actually denying that God exists (more on this point later), but that God rules this world and will hold all to account. The fool does not want to be accountable to anyone; he wishes to do as he pleases, without consequence, or at least without divine consequence.

We'll take up the second half of this verse tomorrow.