Psalm 49
So Rich, yet so very poor! Heaven Can’t be bought.
"God blesses those who realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them." Matt 5:3
The author of this Psalm doesn’t matter-God has a message for His people and He gives the direction and words to the one who is faithful to listen and pen them as God speaks.
Jesus told them this story. The ground of a certain rich man gave him lot of fruit. This is what the rich man thought. "What shall I do? I have nowhere to put the fruit". Then he said, "This is what I will do. I will pull down my buildings, and make bigger ones. There will I put all my fruits and the things that I grow on my land. I will tell myself, You have a lot of things that will help you for many years. Do not work hard any more, but eat and drink and be very happy!" But God said to him, "You fool. Tonight you will die. Then, to whom will all these things belong?" (Luke 12:16-20)
Experience screams louder than the words of the wise and wealthy.
Job says: Everything they count on will collapse. They are leaning on a spider web. Job 8:14 NLT
Job says: "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last.” Job 19:25 NLT
Joshua says: But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15 NLT
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego say: If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." Daniel 3:18-19 NLT
V1- Listen- All – no one excluded Pay Attention All no one excluded
V2 No position or service status excluded / High up or low
No financial category excluded / Rich or poor
Vv 3-4 With much thought and with wisdom, the Psalmist will use parables, riddles accompanied by his harp. A tool Solomon used, Prov 1:6 by exploring the depth of meaning in these proverbs, parables, wise sayings, and riddles.
V 5 He has thought it through and he is happy, playing his harp. His conclusion, I have no need for fear even when my enemies surround me. Psa 23:4 , Psa 27:1
This Psalmist says: I am redeemed by the Shepherd of Light, why should I fear the darkness of night, darkness of situations, financial darkness. He joins Job, and those before him, as says, “This I know, this is my stand for God”
So to those who are trusting in God he says: Don’t fear the ungodly
V 6-9 They have misplaced faith-it is in their wealth and great riches
They can’t pay God to redeem them, money can’t buy them eternal life. They will die!
Vv 10-12They trust their wisdom
The truth is the wise and the foolish and even the senseless leave all they have behind when they die. They can’t rescue themselves. The grave is their eternal home, not the estates they have named for themselves. Those alive will enjoy left their mansions. They will spend all their wealth. Their time to die will come just like any living creature. Matthew would say to them, "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt 6:19-21
Vv 13-14 They are fools thinking themselves wise. They can’t rule themselves-death is the shepherd of the ungodly, their bodies will rot in the grave a far cry from all the grandness that they surrounded themselves with.
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd, He leads me. The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.John 10:10-11 NLT
The Shepherd of Life is Jesus
The Shepherd of death, comes to kill steal and destroy. He will led them to their grave.
vv 14-15 For the believer-Joy will come in the morning-Psalm 30:5. The godly will rule over those who have rejected God.
The believers confidence is in God: As for ME!
God will redeem my life
He will snatch me from the power of death
V15 1. Return to the dust I shall.
2. Redeem from the dust He will.
3. Receive into heaven He will.
4. Rejoice for ever I shall. Spurgeon’s thoughts on this verse.
V 16-20 Don’t be discouraged at the riches and possessions of the ungodly.
Don’t be deceived in thinking they have it made.
We have this truth-
When they die:
They take nothing with them
Their wealth will not follow them into the grave
They think they own it all now-
They and the world applauds their success but when they die , they die like all others before them
They will never see the light of day.
They will never have understood, without Jesus.
They are no different than animals dying without the Spirit of God within them.
Jesus says of His own, They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. John 11:26
Dying without Jesus is what we need to be concerned about, not the riches of this world. Don’t allow your walk to get trapped in the web of worldly thinking. And when people escape from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up with sin and become its slave again, they are worse off than before. 2 Peter 2:20
They don’t understand-Who will tell them?
Join Paul in saying: I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 2 Tim 4:17 NLT
As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead. Gal 6:14 NLT
Jesus says : "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT
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