NO ONE SEEKING GOD

In reading these psalms, we may well ask the question “What, is the greatest tragedy in the history of the world?”. In the light of history, the student of the Bible is bound to say that it is the fall of man in Eden’s garden. Desire for the forbidden thing brought disobedience to God the Creator. The sad climax is seen in God’s banishment of man from His presence, Gen. 3. 24. What tragic results have followed! Man without God—God without man! Think how much God lost in the fall. Surely the hurt was felt more in heaven than on earth.

In these writings, we can see something of the extent of the conditions that sin has produced. There is the folly of the man who says, “no God”, v. 1; not necessarily a denial of the existence of a divine Being, but “no God for me”, or “hands off my life”. Here is an arrogant refusal to submit to God’s right to own and control. The pride of man will not seek God, Psa. 10. 4. Rebellious independence shuts God out and He becomes a stranger. But we reflect that conversion reverses this; the saved sinner is glad to own Jesus as Lord. How vitally different!

Verses 2-3 give a vivid picture of the absence of God in a world of evil. “The Lord looked down”, v. 2, is an interesting statement. In the examination of the human race by the All-knowing God, we get a true picture of the ruin made by sin: all lost and defiled, with none doing good, v. 3; absolute hopelessness. Every evangelist needs to keep this picture firmly in mind. Paul declares the total depravity of man without God in Romans 3, before presenting the power of the gospel as he displays the glorious truths of justification and redemption.

Violence, oppression, degradation and nameless fears are bound to follow. Current events prove this only too clearly. No wonder we get the expression of longing for salvation, v. 6. The psalmist recognized, as we must do, that only in God is there hope. The Lord who looked down, came down to save, John 3. 17, and the Lord who came down laid down His life for man’s salvation, 10. 11. We can also praise God that, when He had completed this tremendous work on the cross, He sat down at God’s right hand, Heb. 10. 12.

Reflecting on these things, how foolish it is to shut God out of our lives. Are we willing to surrender to Him?, Rev. 3. 20.