Psalm 53

"The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good." v. 1

Read chapter 53

The atheist.  This psalm is almost identical to psalm 14.  One is a psalm for public hearing and the other is a psalm David wrote for his own personal reflection.  It's interesting to compare the two psalms of their similarities and differences, just as the four gospels have similar and different accounts of the life of Jesus. 

When we read about the fool we can't just think this is someone "stupid."  The Hebrew word for fool here is 'Nebal' and can mean foolish or stupid but also carries the idea of wickedness or corrupt.  To say things in the heart doesn't necessarily mean one says it with their mouth.  The heart is what we refer to as the seat of emotions, where are "real you" is where our innermost thoughts, desires, beliefs are. So what this person says in their heart brings the meaning of moral corruption.  To say there is no god is what we would call atheist.  The idea also carries not so much that there is no intelligent designer but that there is no moral law or denial of government of God.  They think they won't be called to account for their wickedness of this life.  I know some atheist that are kind and good, but "the reality is that those who have given up on the idea of God, though they still might desire to be good, have cut themselves off from the only One Who can truly make anyone good" (George McDonald The Lady’s Confession). 

What do the depths of your heart say about God?