Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 53

There are many in the church today who oppose the theology of divine election. They cry out, “Unfair! God would not be a god of love if he chooses people for salvation.” This theological viewpoint makes God one-dimensional. He is not; He is both a God of love and of holiness. Romans 11:33 says this about God, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” God’s holiness is beyond our ability to understand, because without the Holy spirit living in us, we are fallen beings with a dreadful, sin nature. Psalm 53 explains who we are without Christ.

Psalm 53:1

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good.

Ah, you say, that’s not me, you say. I believe in God.

Psalm 53:2
God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

And what does God see?

Psalm 53:3
They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Uh oh. When God looks down on us he cannot find one single human who is not corrupted. He cannot find one single person who does good. Not even one. You can compare yourself to Hitler or whomever, but God doesn’t do that. His holiness will not allow Him to have any relationship with sin. The standard is His holiness.

Psalm 53:4-5
Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?  There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

God will judge sin. Jesus came the first time with good news for sinners but His return will be bad news for sinners, for He will come to judge. And because God’s holiness is so perfect, even one little sin, will be enough to send you to hell.

This sounds bleak. This sounds like God is just a mean, heartless god, He is not. In His amazing grace and mercy, He made a choice. He sent His Son, Jesus, to take our place on the cross. Jesus took the penalty of sin for us.

Psalm 53:6
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Salvation is of the Jews. They were God’s chosen people. He chose them to be the people that the Savior would come from. But God also chose to allow salvation to come to all people, not just the Jews.

Revelation 7:9-10
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

So, what does this have to do with the Doctrine of Divine Election? How does that fit into Psalm 53?

Simply this.

According to verse 2, no one seeks after God. No one. Psalm 53, along with many other scriptures, tells us that we are corrupt and we are sinners. Read Romans.

I am not interested in arguing. Been there, done that. I just want God to be given all the glory. The doctrine of Divine Election lines up with the idea that no one seeks after God and we all deserve to be cast into hell for eternity. Yet, God chose to give mercy to some. He would be completely in the right to cast us ALL into hell. But He didn’t.

Whatever you want to believe is your decision. I know this for a fact; God chose me. I was not looking for Him. He chased me down and put new life in me.

Read psalm 53 today. Read Romans. Read the whole Bible from page one to the very end.

Salvation belongs to God. I take no credit for my own. I offer all the glory to God for every, single good thing.

I don’t understand God. It’s not possible. The Bible says that. I don’t understand how it all works. I don’t need to. I just need to keep my eyes on Jesus. I leave you with one last scripture to ponder and meditate on.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Fix your eyes upon Jesus. He is the author and the perfecter of my faith.