The Confidence Of The Foolish Exposed.

THE CONFIDENCE OF THE FOOLISH EXPOSED.

Psalm 49:1-12.

This is a wisdom Psalm, addressed to “all people”: “both low and high, rich and poor, together” (Psalm 49:1-4). It is an encouragement to the poor not to fear (Psalm 49:5; cf. Psalm 37:7). It is an exposure of the folly (cf. Psalm 49:13) of those who put their trust in riches (Psalm 49:6; cf. 1 Timothy 6:17).

All the riches in the world cannot pay the price of the redemption of one man’s soul before God (Psalm 49:7-9; cf. Matthew 16:26). In Jesus’ well known parable of the rich man and Lazarus, ‘the beggar died’: ‘the rich man also died’ (cf. Luke 16:22). Death is the great leveller (Psalm 49:10; cf. Luke 12:20).

People may name their lands after their own names (Psalm 49:11), or after the names of their sons (cf. Genesis 4:17), but there is no continual dwelling here (cf. Hebrews 13:14). Man in his pomp, and without understanding, will be “like the beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:12; cf. Psalm 49:20).

Application.

In order to understand the full scope of the message of Psalm 49, it is best read and studied in its entirety. The key verse is Psalm 49:15, which reads, ‘But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.’

You see, believers, somebody did pay the ransom for us, even our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Mark 10:45).

‘If then ye be raised with Christ,’ says Paul, ‘seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth’ (Colossians 3:1-2).

‘For our citizenship is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 3:20). Amen.