BIG IDEA:
THE HOPE OF THE RIGHTEOUS VS. THE FALSE SECURITY OF THE
FOOLISH
(:1-4) INTRODUCTION: THIS WORD OF WISDOM APPLIES TO EVERYONE
A. Exhortation to Listen Carefully (Listen Up!)
"Hear this"
"Give ear"
B. Scope of Application (No Partiality)
1. Worldwide Application
"all peoples"
"all inhabitants of the world"
2. Economic Class Application
"both low and high"
"both rich and poor"
C. Value of this Teaching
word of wisdom and understanding
D. Form of Communication
"a proverb"
"a riddle"
I. (:5) FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: WHY SHOULD I LET THE APPARENT PROSPERITY OF THE WICKED BOTHER ME?
"Why should I fear?"
II. HOPE OF THE RIGHTEOUS
A. Redemption is Costly:
"God will redeem my soul" (:15)
B. Eternal Fellowship with God is Secure
"God will receive me" (:15)
III. FALSE SECURITY OF THE FOOLISH
A. (:6-9) Redemption is Costly:
No amount of money can buy Redemption.You cannot trust in your wealth
B. (:10-12) Death is Universal
The Wise to the Stupid -- they all die and leave their wealth behind
The Proud try to ignore this harsh reality
they imagine that their wealth will enable them to live forever
But in the end all die -- just like animals
IV. (:16-20) ANSWER TO THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION
"Do not be afraid !"
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) The truths of God are universal and cut across all social and economic and geographic strata (vv.1-2). How does this encourage us in our mission to go into all the world and make disciples of all men?
2) What comparisons can you draw between the questions raised in this psalm and the themes addressed in the Book of Ecclesiastes? How does the perspective of the
psalmist go beyond the limited answers provided by Solomon?
3) To what extent is our security and value system tainted with a reliance upon wealth, wisdom or power rather than solely on God? We know intellectually that “You can’t take it with you”; but do our day-to-day decisions reflect that reality?
4) Why should we “not be afraid when a man becomes rich (vs. 16)?” Why would we even be tempted to be afraid? What dynamic is at work here?
Download the entire Psalms commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
