What does the Bible mean when it says "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'"?

In Psalm 13 the psalmist has found the Lord had dealt bountifully with him. But now he may look around him to consider the condition of men generally. What a sight it is! "The fool has said in his heart — no God" (v. 1). Even though he is a fool he does not really believe that there is no God, but tries to persuade himself of this foolish premise. His very actions show that he has no respect for God, and that he would rather banish God from his thoughts. This one fool here spoken of primarily refers to the coming antichrist, who will take the place of God in people's minds (2 Thess. 2:3-4). But he is not alone, for the word "they" follows, showing there are many others of the same character "they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good." Many 4111 object to this sweeping declaration, for they say that at least there are some things they do that are good. But what motives lead an unbeliever to do what he thinks is good? Actually, the fact of the difference between men is because of God's interposing by His grace to save souls. Otherwise, their motive will always be selfish, which is not good in the sight of God.

Thus, the Lord observes from heaven the character and activities of all the children of men. He discerns what men do not discern, for mankind generally are full of pride, no matter how debased they may be. Are there any who understand and seek God? None whatever, until God by grace works in their hearts. "They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt" (v. 3). They influence one another, but not for good. God's estimate of people generally is that "there is none who does good, no not one." The only remedy must come from God.

The fool tries to persuade himself there is no God. But the reason he does this is evident. Together with many others, he has corrupted himself. He prefers abominable iniquity to doing good, and he hopes he will not be answerable to any God. What futility! The antichrist will think he has succeeded in his rebellion, but for how long? No more than a few years! But at that time the general condition of mankind will be the same: "there is none who does good" (v. 1). Of course in an absolute sense this is true of mankind in all ages, though generally this fact is ignored or refused by mankind. God is a deeply interested spectator of mankind, observing closely the doings of every individual. But their sinful nature is such that they do not understand nor seek God (v. 2). All have turned away from Him, becoming corrupt, Not one actually does good (v. 3). This is true of all people by nature, and to change this requires a definite work of God in giving new birth, as the New Testament shows.

The knowledge of good and evil, which man acquired in the fall, has so constituted him that judgment is the only action of God’s power which he understands; naturally enough, he resists it, and blasphemes God, because his conscience tells him that he must be the object of His righteous vengeance; so that to calm his conscience he tries to persuade himself that he is not wicked, and he hides himself from God, like Adam, and in his folly seizes with avidity the smallest pretext for denying His existence. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” (Psalms 14; 53.)

The knowledge of good and evil, which man acquired in the fall, has so constituted him that judgment is the only action of God’s power which he understands; naturally enough, he resists it, and blasphemes God, because his conscience tells him that he must be the object of His righteous vengeance; so that to calm his conscience he tries to persuade himself that he is not wicked, and he hides himself from God, like Adam, and in his folly seizes with avidity the smallest pretext for denying His existence. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.” (Psalms 14; 53.)

105 Psalm 53, as we know, convicts of entire sinfulness those who have the best advantages. But the secret of this course is old too, and on that a few words. AU the path of the wicked comes from this. For him God is not. Faith does not exist, and God is not seen. This is the secret of all error in practice and in human reasoning. The more we examine the whole course of human action, the faults of us Christians, the various wanderings of philosophy, the more we shall find that no God is at the root of all. Here it is the case that the conscience takes no notice of God. The heart has no desire after Him, and the will works as if there were none. Man says so in his heart. Why should he say it? Because his conscience tells him there is one. His will would not have one; and, as God is not seen in His working, will sees only what it will. God is set aside, and the whole conduct is under the will's influence, as if no God existed. He takes pains to prove there is not if he thinks, because he cannot get on if there is; but he lifts himself up, and, deceiving himself, comes in practical condition to will there should be none - and not to think, but to act as if he thought, and that in purpose as well as act, as if there were none. In a certain sense, he even thinks so; for, being entirely occupied with present things, and blind through his alienation from God, his moral feelings dead, judging from present things, he can draw conclusions, not believe that there is one, and, living in his own thoughts thus formed, live in the thought there is none - says so in his heart. If conscience awakes, he knows well there is; but he lives in his will and the thoughts of his will, and for him there is no God.

Oh the heart! What a fountain-head of mischief and misery it is! Well says the Scripture, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” And hence we read that “The fool has said in his heart, ‘No God!’” (Ps. 14:1). Such a saying may not have reached the lips—may not have taken verbal form; but, in unspoken heart-language, the utterance is made, “No God!”

The wish that there should be no God—none to exercise full authority over us, or restrain our wills, or condemn our sins, or call us into judgment; none, in short, to whom we should be thus responsible—is latent in every human bosom. Sin has produced that wish; and how easy to advance from the idea to the belief, from the wish to the word, “No God”! Yet, after all, he who should thus speak is called a “fool”; for can there be folly more self-evident than the rejection of God? Could you conceive the unfallen creature making such a denial? Impossible! It is reserved for fallen man to do so. Then, how awfully blinding must sin be!

Only the fool has said in his heart, No God; he is fool morally and in the worst sense. Reasoning, if sound, may argue that so this or that must be; revelation says that so it is. Nothing is so simple, satisfactory, and deep as the truth. This alone in grace meets man's ignorance and his need: the truth answers both, now and for ever. Believers are entitled to say, We know, and this on God's testimony, as sure as it is clear, forming the consciousness of the new man by God's Spirit.

(v. 1) The characteristic man of this terrible time will be “the fool” — the man who has no fear of God. In his heart he says, “No God”; and his corrupt and abominable life manifests the thought of his heart.

In full contrast with wisdom, and quite distinct from the scorner, is "the foolish woman." Here we have the picture of herself and her ways, her guests, and their end. Only we must not think that the folly in question means a feeble intellect, but rather the absence of care or thought, of heart or conscience, toward God, which Satan fosters in benighted man. "The fool has said in his heart, There is no God," and therefore neither seeks nor calls on Him. This at the last is antichrist. Here it is "the foolish woman," the state of things that entices, fleshly corruption rather than the haughty antagonist that sets it up.