Psalm Meditation 1343 ¶Fourth Sunday in Lent ¶March 15, 2026 ¶Psalm 53 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2070&version=NRSVUE ¶In Hebrew, the word ‘fool’ is much deeper than the standard English usage. It is not simply one who is stupid or silly, it is someone who is morally and ethically bankrupt, whether intentionally or not. Those who do not acknowledge the presence of God are not simply slow they are, in this case, actively evil. They may find and make ways to justify their actions to their own satisfaction, however God and the psalmist know that these fools are evil and perverse. ¶The way I read this psalm is that God is looking at humanity and asking if any of the fools have any wisdom that will lead them back to the presence and influence of God. It seems that every one of the fools has walked away from God, rather than taking a step in the wrong direction that they will willingly fix once they realize the error of their current way. While the psalmist believes that God will destroy these evil folks, I am convinced that God simply allows them to continue in the path that will lead them to destruction, even as God is willing to help any and all of them to return to the way of God. ¶God offers each of us abundant life without forcing it on us. Abundance does not always mean fame and fortune, sometimes it means realizing the wealth of friends and family that buoy us up in times of trial. It is the willingness and ability to see the hand of God in every situation, accentuating the positives without ignoring the negatives. A life of abundance allows us to see where we have enough to spare and share it with others whose needs match our places of abundance. ¶March 9, 2026 ¶LCM