Psalms 49

Psalms 49:1-20

the Folly of Trusting in Riches Psalms 49:1-20 Here is a proclamation worthy of the hearing of all the world. The psalmist is listening to voices unheard by ordinary ears. Be sure to listen to God’ s voice, and then unfold His dark sayings in music. However dark they may seem in their mystery and awe, they may be uttered in song. See Revelation 15:3-4. The burden of the psalm is the impotence of wealth. The millionaire cannot prolong the life of his sick child. And even if, like Queen Elizabeth, he cries on his dying bed: “ A million of money for a moment of time!” the sand passes unheeding through the hour-glass. He must leave stocks and shares, jewels and gold, at the summons of Death, described in Psalms 49:14 as the shepherd who calls his flock to fold it in Sheol, R.V. How different the lot of the righteous! As eternity dawns, they are redeemed from the power of the grave and pass to the bosom of God.

What are the riches and glory of this world compared with the sense of God’ s presence in the humble and contrite heart! To have that is to have the essence of all! “ Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee,” Psalms 73:25.

They that trust in wealth The subject of this Psalm is the prosperity of the wicked, as contemplated by the righteous. This was a frequent cause of wonder to these Hebrew thinkers (compare Psalms 37:1-40). And the singer presents to us the only consolation within the reach of those times–that the glory and success of the ungodly were but temporary and would pass away as a shadow. While the righteous might count upon long vistas of unbroken blessedness in the presence of God.

We may divide thus: The introduction (Psalms 49:1-4); the argument (Psalms 49:5-15); the conclusion (Psalms 49:16-20).

Psalms 49:4. I will open my dark saying The Psalmist has no hesitation in asking for universal audience, because he not only speaks what he has heard with the ear–he brings forth in song what he has learned from God. There is melody in God’s darkest sayings.

Psalms 49:5. Wherefore should I fear? The second clause might be better rendered, “When the iniquity of my treaders-down compasses me about.”

Psalms 49:6-9. They that trust in wealth Men are very foolish to take airs on themselves, because they are rich. After all, money cannot do much for its owners. It will not enable a man to redeem either his brother or himself from untimely or sudden death. “A million of money for a moment of time!” cried Queen Elizabeth on her deathbed. (See 1 Timothy 6:17).

Psalms 49:10-12. Leave their wealth to others And yet, though wealthy and wicked men are surrounded by death, they try as much as possible to ignore it and endeavor to obtain immortality for themselves in this world by the perpetuation of their names on their estates.

Psalms 49:14. They are laid in the grave The idea here is of a flock of sheep, with death as shepherd, conducting them to the fold of the grave and sheol. What a contrast to Psalms 23:1! The morning of resurrection glory is not far away, with its songs of triumph. Lift up your heads, your redemption draweth nigh.

Psalms 49:18-20. While he lived Our Lord’s parables are the best commentary on these words (Luke 12:19; Luke 16:25).