Today’s Bible reading is Psalm 53. Verse 2 gives us something to think about throughout the day:
God looks down from heaven
on the children of man
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.
It’s been 3,000 years since David wrote those words, but how little has changed! As our Creator looks down from heaven, what does he see in 2018?
- The fool who says in his heart, “There is no God” (53:1)
- The corrupt who do “abominable iniquity” (53:1)
- Those who “work evil” (53:4)
- Those who “encamp against” (53:5) and “devour” others (53:4)
- Those who do not “call upon God” (53:4)
- Those who will ultimately be “put to shame” because “God has rejected them” (53:5)
It doesn’t take long to reflect on that ugly list before you understand why David laments in Psalm 53:3,
They have all fallen away;
together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.
But before you walk away deflated and depressed by Psalm 53, don’t overlook the last verse:
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. (Psa 53:6)
While so many are choosing to walk in ways that callously ignore and blatantly dishonor the Creator, some can still be described as “God’s people.” In the midst of this dark storm, God’s men and women still have reason to rejoice and be glad. Why? Because they know who and whose they are.
It’s a simple question for the day: as God looks down from heaven on the children of man, what does he see? More specifically, as God looks down on me today, does he see someone who “understands”? Someone who is “seeking after” him? And where will be my opportunity to help someone else look up toward him who is looking down on all of us today, ready and willing to save?