“Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God. Terror will grip them, terror like they have never known before. God will scatter the bones of your enemies. You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them. Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel? When God restores his people, Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.”
Psalms 53:1-6 NLT
Psalm 53 is a curious passage because it appears to be hypocritical. How can David claim that no one knows God or does good, but still claim to know God and to be righteous? The simple answer is that he does so, not on his own merit but on the grace of God. His statements are a clinical criticism of the entire human race. It is acknowledgment of the nature of man’s, including his own, effort. It is only the fact that God gives his righteousness that man can be righteous. It is only the fact that God gives his wisdom that man can be wise. These things are transcendent aspects of God that man cannot achieve by his nature. He needs revelation and agency that he cannot demand. These truths are what make him an utter fool as he demands from God, or rejects him altogether. Yet, this is precisely the position that humanity throughout history has tended to take. We ought to not be so bold or brash. Even Jesus said that only his father in heaven was good. Even he relied on God’s righteousness and grace, even though he was perfect. It turns out that our righteousness is as filthy rags, ontologically speaking, even when we are our best selves. Praise God that he has given more than this to us if we only trust in him.
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