Psalm 49

SLIDE 1 Dennis became a Christian while he was on college. Six months later he was diagnosed with cancer and given less than three years to live. He said, “Cancer brought me to my knees; I had no control over my life.” Yet despite the devastating news, he continued to grow spiritually. When asked how he felt about his prognosis he responded that he would rather live a short time for God than a long time for nothing.

When he could no longer take care of himself he moved back brought home to die. His mother would come into his room and ask her sedated son, “Dennis, are you here?” His reply each time was, “Yes, Mother, I’m here.” Near the end when she came in again with her question, Dennis’s reply was “No, Mother, I’m going home.” Of that time his mother said, “He prepared us to die.”

We don’t like to talk about or even think about it but we know we are all going to die.

Turn to Psalm 49. This psalm, like the six before it, is attributed to the sons of Korah. It will be the last of their psalms until we get into the 80s. The last few psalms have psalms of praise and joy because of God’s deliverance. This psalm is not like that. If you needed some uplifting thoughts tonight you will not find too many in this psalm. It’s not that it doesn’t have any hope but that it is filled with the reality of death and the false hope some people put in possessions and money.

The superscript reads:

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

This is the last of the psalms attributed to the sons of Korah in this section. We’ll see a few more when we get Psalm 84-88. I think it’s funny that the psalm is called a psalm. That doesn’t tell us much but the designation must have had a better meaning for those who labeled it such. It is a wisdom psalm in that the psalmist is trying to teach us something about life and more importantly, about death.

1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor alike: (Psalm 49:1-2)

The psalmist will spend the first four verses trying to get our attention:

Listen to me. Pay attention to what I’m about to say.

He wants everyone – the entire community – to hear and learn. “All peoples” include those who were born into families of great political influence and those that weren’t as well as the rich, the poor, and everyone in between. Everyone can learn a lesson from he is about to say. He wants to guide everyone about putting trust in riches.

One commentator points our four kinds of riches. SLIDE 2

First, there are those rich in possessions. That is usually what we think about in terms of riches, money but there are three others.

Second, there are riches of accomplishments and what we do.

Third, there are riches of knowledge and what we know.

And fourth, there are riches of character and who we are.

SLIDE 3 Of the four the first is the least important and yet it is what we focus on the most. It is also the focus of this psalm.

3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. 4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle. (Psalm 49:3-4)

Most psalms offer praise to God, but the purpose of psalm is to give understanding or wisdom as opposed to the foolishness of trusting in wealth. The word for wisdom is plural, indicating that this psalm will be “full wisdom.” That’s why everyone needs to pay close attention. He is about to give some practical observations about how to get through life.

We might wonder how the psalmist knows so much. Is he worth listening to? Lots of people claim to have secret knowledge. “Listen to me,” they say, “and I’ll tell you how to have success.”

I’ve been hearing an ad on YouTube recently that I think is pretty funny. It starts by asking, “How can a believer making six figures become a kingdom builder making seven figures?” The point the guy is trying to make is he’ll show you how you can make more money so you can help build God’s kingdom. There are all kinds of problems with this logic. The first is I’m not making six figures yet. Another problem is God doesn’t need our money as much as he needs us. God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. I hit skip this ad as soon as I can. That’s not a guy I want to listen to. But this psalmist says we should listen to him.

It appears that this is something he has spent a great deal of time thinking about. He says it has been the “meditation of his heart.” As a result, his words of wisdom will lead to understanding.

The psalmist then ends this introduction to his psalm saying that he will play it on a harp in the form of a riddle. It’s a riddle not in the sense that he’s trying to make us figure out what he’s saying but that he’s taking something that’s difficult to understand and laying it out plainly for all to learn from.

We finally get to the subject matter in verse 5 and it begins with a couple of questions.

5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me – 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? (Psalm 49:5-6)

The world is full of people who would take advantage of us. There are many who would take our money any way they can. I can tell you stories of people at West Side who have received emails, texts, and phone calls trying to cheat them out of their money. These kinds of people have always been around. As the psalmist says, there are deceivers all around us. We hear the horror stories of those who have fallen prey to these people but do we need to fear them? Should we be afraid?

As many of those people as there seem to be, we have less to fear than the psalmist did. We have less reason because today we have greater resources to try and get the money back. A few years ago Mary Anne was notified a couple of times about someone trying to use her credit card number to buy a large amount of supplies from a Home Depot in Louisiana. They recognized the fact that she didn’t live anywhere near there and that she didn’t usually make those kinds of purchases so the purchase was declined. Someone tried to steal from her but they weren’t allowed to. And even if the sale had gone through there’s a good chance Mary Anne could have questioned and not had to pay for it. There were no such safe guards in the psalmist’s day. There will always be those who have as their greatest goal to get more money and they will do whatever they can to take yours, but we don’t need to be afraid? By the asking if he needed to fear them we can assume the answer is no. The reason the psalmist will give is because there is so much in life that money makes absolutely no difference. The ones who should in fear are those who “trust in their wealth and boast of great riches.” It’s not the mere possession of riches that’s a problem but the trust in them. Trusting in wealth and possessions is idolatry.

The Bible doesn’t disparage every rich person. Abraham was very wealthy as were Isaac and Jacob. They were godly men who we find mentioned in Hebrews 11 as examples of great faith. They trusted in God and not in their riches. You remember that Paul wrote to Timothy warning him about those who love money. SLIDE 4

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)

We need money to buy and sell. Money is not the problem. The problem is when we love money and begin to trust in it. How can you know if you are trusting in your wealth? Those who find more security in their bank account or retirement account than they do in God trust their wealth more than God. What would bother you more, a financial loss or a spiritual loss? Trusting in wealth is wrong first because it is idolatrous but also because it is fruitless. Listen to what the psalmist says about wealth and life.

7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them – (Psalm 49:7)

Money can only buy so much. Money can buy medical care but it can’t by good health. Nor can money prevent anyone from dying. You can’t pay God enough money to prevent you or anyone else from dying. Why? The psalmist says in the next verse:

8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough – 9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay. (Psalm 49:8-9)

No one has enough money because it costs more than money. Money will buy toys and entertainment but it can’t buy your life. We will all die one day and there’s nothing that can stop that, it doesn’t matter how much money you have.

The psalmist’s word choice is interesting. He refers to it as a ransom. We think of a ransom as money given to kidnapper in exchange for a hostage. However, it is also the term used in the Net Testament for what Jesus did to save us. Jesus said: SLIDE 6

26b Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:26b-28)

And Paul wrote to Timothy: SLIDE 7

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6a who gave himself as a ransom for all people. (1 Timothy 2:5-6a)

This ransom was not paid with money, but with the blood of Jesus. Peter wrote: SLIDE 8

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed [or ransomed] from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

SLIDE 9 Even in the Old Testament we see this idea of being bought by God and of going to his presence after death. Some will say that the Old Testament doesn’t have anything to say about life after death but this Psalm 49 is just one among many passages that say otherwise. The psalmist knew that money couldn’t redeem anyone from death but that God can. Therefore, those who trust in money are wasting their time.

Voltaire was a famous French philosopher of the 1700s. Because of his popularity he became quite wealthy. He was also an atheist. It is said that on his death bed he begged his doctor to give him just six more months of life and offered him half of all his possessions. Would anyone like to guess how that worked out for Voltaire? He died just like everyone else. It didn’t matter how much money he had. And because of his refusal to even admit there is a God, it didn’t get any better for him after his death.

10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others. (Psalm 49:10)

Who can take their money with them when they die? No one can. It doesn’t matter how smart you are or how rich you are you will still leave your wealth just like the foolish and the senseless. While we can’t take our money with us, Jesus suggested that we can send wealth ahead of us. He told us: SLIDE 10

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. SLIDE 11 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20)

SLIDE 12 That’s the only riches we can take to heaven.

Why is the psalmist saying all this? Remember, after his four verse introduction, he started the psalm with a question:

5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me – 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? (Psalm 49:5-6)

Why should I fear them when their end is going to be worse than mine? Concerning those who are only rich in this life and trust in those riches the psalmist says:

11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. 12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:11-12)

People like to name lands and buildings after themselves. They hunger for immortality thinking their riches and estates will bring it. But what good does it really do them? Their fame will not last. They will die just like the animals that have no wealth or riches. The psalmist says that the expensive home they build will be given to someone else and their new home will be their grave. No amount of money will change that.

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. (Psalm 49:13)

The NIV doesn’t translate verse 13 very accurately. Literally it says that this is the fate of the foolish. Of course the foolish are those who dismiss God and instead trust in themselves. There are some who will think the rich people are wise. After all, look at how much money they have. But the same thing will happen to them as well. And then, in case we aren’t sure what will happen to those who only trust in themselves and their wealth, the psalmist gets more specific.

14 They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. (Psalm 49:14)

This is not a very uplifting psalm is it? However, it is the truth. It’s not very encouraging but it is what will happen. So many people of the world invest themselves completely in the world with absolutely no thought of the world to come. They die just like any animal because they think that this is all there is so they don’t prepare for a life beyond the grave. But there is a future life for those who trust in God and the psalmist declares his belief in it.

15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. (Psalm 49:15)

In verse 14 he spoke of the upright prevailing over the wealthy in the morning. The morning he’s referring to is the resurrection of the dead. The rich may hold the power in this life but not in the one to come. God will redeem those who trust in him. We again see that reference to God paying the price necessary to take us from the grave that we might be with him. Of course we know that price was paid with the blood of Jesus as we’ve already read. And when that day comes those who trusted in God and not in the wealth of this world will have dominion. They will go to be with God because God will ransom them. God said through Hosea: SLIDE 13

I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? I will have no compassion. (Hosea 13:14)

SLIDE 14 God said he would redeem us and the psalmist believes it.

It is so easy to be jealous of the rich and enamored by their possessions but they won’t last. The possessions won’t last and those who own them won’t last but those who trust in God will be with him forever. Which is more important, a few years of riches here or an eternity with God? Therefore, the psalmist says:

16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases; 17 for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them. (Psalm 49:16-17)

While the NIV says we shouldn’t be overawed at the wealth of others, other translations say that we shouldn’t become dismayed, amazed, or even afraid of their wealth. I don’t think we become afraid when people become wealthy but I do think we tend to put too much emphasis on it. We may become awed or amazed. When we see their nice house, car, clothes, or other possessions we can become overly impressed. They may have nice things but we are reminded again that when they die none of it will go with them. Thomas Fuller wrote:

Riches may leave us while we live but we must leave them when we die.

The psalmist says that their splendor or glory will not go with them. All the praise and recognition they receive for their wealth they receive only in this life. But for the righteous, for those who trust in God, the opposite is true. Their glory, their praise and honor will be received after they die. As Paul wrote: SLIDE 15

He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:14)

SLDIE 16 There is nothing wrong with having nice and expensive things. The problem is when people put their trust in them or forget that there is something more than those nice possessions. What’s more important? Our relationship with God is more important.

18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed – and people praise you when you prosper – 19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life. (Psalm 49:18-19)

For those who live for this world this world is the best they will ever have. But for those who live for the next life this is the worst they will ever have and the next life will be the best.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:20)

I think most people like pets. It’s easy for a pet to become like a member of the family. However, pets live by their passions and instincts. They don’t plan and hope for the future. They live for today with no thought for next year and no concern for what will happen when they die. In that regard the psalmist says that those who do not understand the truths he shares are no better than an animal.

It is sometimes asked how people in the Old Testament were saved. They were saved the same way we are, through faith. We have faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross, believing that one day he will come back to get us. For those in the Old Testament Jesus hadn’t come yet. They didn’t know what God was going to do in Jesus they just believed that God would do something. Our faith is in what God has done and what he will do. Their faith was all in what God would do. But we are all saved by faith. That’s the point Paul made to the believers in Rome when he wrote: SLIDE 17

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. SLIDE 18 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:1-3)

Abraham was not considered right before God because of what he did but because of his faith in what God would do. The author of Hebrews describes Abraham’s faith this way: SLIDE 19

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. SLIDE 20 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. SLIDE 21 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)

SLIDE 22 The psalmist, looking forward says he knows that God will ransom his soul. As a result he believed he would go to be with God when he died. We don’t live for this world, we live for the next.