Sharper Iron — Spring into the Psalms – Psalm 53: What a Fool Believes

https://kfuo-od.streamguys1.com/recast/sharper-iron/20260508092836-2026-05-08_SI.mp3
Download Audio File

In Psalm 53, David repeats much of his prayer from Psalm 14 as he speaks about the folly that infects all mankind. Even the smartest of people show their foolishness when they live in the practical atheism that acts without the fear of God. Such folly is the state of all mankind apart from the grace of God. In that grace, God’s people cry out to him to deliver them from evil and bring His salvation through Jesus Christ, the Word dwelling in our flesh.

Rev. Kale Hanson, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Bethalto, IL, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 53.

To learn more about Zion Lutheran, visit zionbethalto.org.

Join Sharper Iron this spring to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 53

There Is None Who Does Good

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David.

[1] The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;

there is none who does good.

[2] God looks down from heaven

on the children of man

to see if there are any who understand,

who seek after God.

[3] They have all fallen away;

together they have become corrupt;

there is none who does good,

not even one.

[4] Have those who work evil no knowledge,

who eat up my people as they eat bread,

and do not call upon God?

[5] 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.

[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.