251 - What money can't do – Psalm 49
1-4 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation brings understanding. I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre. 5-9 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me. They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches. Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God since the price of redeeming him is too costly (one should forever stop trying) so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
10-11 For one can see that the wise die - the foolish and stupid also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their permanent homes, their dwellings from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves. 12 But, despite his assets, mankind will not last; he is like the animals that perish. 13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words.Selah 14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. 15 But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol, for he will take me.Selah
16-17 Do not be afraid when a person gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases. For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down. 18 Though he blesses himself during his lifetime - and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself - 19 he will go to the generation of his ancestors; they will never see the light. 20 Mankind, with his assets but without understanding, is like the animals that perish. Psalm 49 English Standard Version (New Living Translation paraphrase)
Older readers will probably have memories of 'folk songs' that asked questions about war, the meaning of life and other deep issues. (Younger readers may say some rap music does that too.) But accompanying deep thoughts with music wasn't invented in our generation. Verses 1-4 show that the Psalm writers were doing that over 2,800 years ago. What was the issue that this writer was thinking about? (vs 5-9)
It seems he was facing a situation where people with riches had the power to exploit people like himself. That situation hasn't changed. We live in an age where extremely wealthy people with massive global power seek to control the rest of us. But what had the Psalmist realised in vs 5-9 that gave him comfort in his situation?
Riches can't make anyone immortal! Rich people may invest millions trying to find something to keep them young forever, but there's no amount of money that can save a soul from death. The writer develops this in vs 10 -12. Verse 12 puts it well when it says “despite his assets, mankind will not last; he is like the animals that perish.” Verse 13 reminds us that riches and power often lead to arrogance. People have named huge estates (and business enterprises) after themselves and are admired by many. But what does vs 14 say the destiny of tycoons who've despised God will be?
What a vivid picture that is – death as a shepherd that locks them up in the grave where they rot away. But what is the great hope of righteous people – even poor ones? (vs 15)
The Lord is their shepherd - and he redeems them from the graves grip. He didn't do it with money, but with his precious blood! So what's the outcome of what the writer had come to see so clearly? (vs 16-20)
There's no need to be afraid (or envious) of wealthy powerful people, even if others applaud them. Their wealth and power can't save them from the grave and their end will come. Death puts the rich and poor on the same level. And if any younger person reads this post, don't set your heart on becoming a high-powered tycoon! Despite the crowds who may praise you, many have said that 'it's lonely at the top'. And those who reach the top of the financial world but have no relationship with God will discover it's lonelier than anyone ever warned them it would be. All their money won't be able to buy peace with God. Make sure that the Lord Jesus Christ is your shepherd – not death.
There’s a musical version of this Psalm by Karl Kohlhase at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbd1bo0NEdo&ab_channel=KarlKohlhase