Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 49: GOD WILL REDEEM MY LIFE The Foolishness of Trusting in Riches

This psalm focuses on the foolishness of putting confidence in your wealth and not developing a spiritually rich life with God. It is reminiscent of the story Jesus told in the gospel of Luke about the wealthy farmer who neglected God and built bigger barns for himself. It amplifies the fact that everyone will die and wealth cannot change or delay the appointment. The resurrection is foretold in verse 14 and Jesus is seen as the only one who can redeem the life of another from eternal death. The psalm is written in the sharp, preaching style of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. It is closely related to Asaph’s Psalm 73 that also deals with the riddle of why the wicked prosper. A strong disclaimer is in order here. Wealth is not evil, it is a blessing in the hands of the righteous to do tremendous good. Wealth is a byproduct and never the goal of godliness. For some it is the nat- ural result of loving God, being honest, working hard, being generous and loving people as you love yourself. “ Always remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you power to become rich, and he does it to fulfill the covenant he made with your ancestors.” (Deut. 8:18) Not every Christian will be rich by worldly standards but every Christian has the potential to be blessed as they walk faithfully with God and guard their hearts against coveting the wealth of the world.

I. THE RIDDLE - 1-4 II. RICHES CANNOT REDEEM - 5-13

III. THE RESURRECTION AND REDEEMER - 14-15 IV. RICHES WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING - 16-20

INTRODUCTION:

“ For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.” (See Psalm 42 for a description of the descendants of Korah.)

I THE RIDDLE - 1-4

“ Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! High and low, rich and poor–lis- ten! For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. “ (1-3)

This is a universal topic touching the most sensitive areas of human existence; the effects of the accumulation of wealth and the certainty of each person’s death. Everyone is summoned to hear the wis- dom of the minstrel as the song turns to a dark and serious subject. On these issues both rich and poor need to find God’s perspective; it is the love of money not money itself that is the root of evil. “ For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Tim. 6:10)

“ I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.” (4)

Delitzsch says: ‘the opening on the harp of the riddle does not consist in the solving of it, but in the setting of it forth…’ In other words the riddle has been solved and now the psalmist is presenting it in a song. Other translations present it as above; the inspired music actually enhances the atmosphere of revelation and understanding from the Holy Spirit. This was certainly true of Elisha when he needed to hear from God in the 2nd Book of Kings: “ Now bring me someone who can play the harp. While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha, and he said, ‘This is what the Lord says: This dry valley will be filled with pools of water!’” (2 Kings 3:15,16) Worship music most certainly en- lightens the mind making it sensitive to the wisdom of God.

II RICHES CANNOT REDEEM - 5-13

“ There is no need to fear when times of trouble come, when enemies are surrounding me. They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches.” (5,6)

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