A Refuge for the Poor

The Inescapable God
God Protects
Psalm 14 (The Message)

A David Psalm

 ¹ Bilious and bloated, they gas, "God is gone."
   Their words are poison gas,
      fouling the air; they poison
   Rivers and skies;
      thistles are their cash crop.

 ² God sticks his head out of heaven.
      He looks around.
   He's looking for someone not stupid—
      one man, even, God-expectant,
      just one God-ready woman.

 ³ He comes up empty. A string
      of zeros. Useless, unshepherded
   Sheep, taking turns pretending
      to be Shepherd.
   The ninety and nine
      follow their fellow.

 ⁴ Don't they know anything,
      all these impostors?
   Don't they know
      they can't get away with this—
   Treating people like a fast-food meal
      over which they're too busy to pray?

 ^5-6 Night is coming for them, and nightmares,
      for God takes the side of victims.
   Do you think you can mess
      with the dreams of the poor?
   You can't, for God
      makes their dreams come true.

 ⁷ Is there anyone around to save Israel?
      Yes. God is around; God turns life around.
   Turned-around Jacob skips rope,
      turned-around Israel sings laughter.

For Reflection
What a depressing view of human kind.  Gassy people, they are pontificating their stink. They are limited by their own perverse view of the world. By their own action they are confined only to the happiness that comes from good fortune.  What happens when luck turns against them --  when all their carefully prepared plans turn to mush. To whom can they turn?  Some turn to death. What good can be expected from those who do not turn to prayer?
I would not suggest that this Steve Martin song is a contemporary psalm.  However, what joy can an atheist find in his godless world without a celebratory hymn.  Check out The Atheist Hymnal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFWA1A9XFi8

Pray
for those who live with out God.  Pray that they will find the grace of the holy spirit.  Pray that your word and deed will help them understand salvation.