HEADING. ‘For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.' This is the last of the Psalms of the sons of Korah (42-49) to be found in this second part. (In the third part see 84-85; 87-88). The Psalm is addressed to both rich and poor, and is a meditation on wealth. It can be seen as in ver... [ Continue Reading ]
AN APPEAL TO LISTEN TO HIS WORDS (PSALMS 49:1). The Psalmist commences by making an appeal to all men, both high and low, rich and poor, to listen to his wisdom. Note his recognition that he is speaking mysteries (parables, dark sayings). This would confirm that he expects them to see in what he is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HELPLESSNESS OF THE RICH IN THE FACE OF DEATH (PSALMS 49:6). He now points out that the rich are helpless in the face of death. None can redeem his brother, because the price of such redemption is too high. None can give to his brother eternal life and incorruptibility. The implication is that... [ Continue Reading ]
MAN'S VAIN ATTEMPT TO PERPETUATE HIMSELF WILL BE IN VAIN WHATEVER HE DOES (PSALMS 49:11). Men do in their own ineffective way seek to perpetuate themselves. They think that they will live for ever in their children and their children. They set up establishments and foundations in their own name. An... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FOR THE UPRIGHT THERE IS HOPE. FOR THEM THERE IS A COMING MORNING AND A REDEMPTION (PSALMS 49:14). These two verses stand out on their own between the two ‘Selahs'. In them the fate of the unrighteous is contrasted with the of the upright. Once again we see in a Davidic Psalm his certainty that... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UPRIGHT ARE NOT THEREFORE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WAY THAT THE RICH SEEM TO FLOURISH, FOR IN THE END THE RICH WHO DO NOT HAVE TRUE UNDERSTANDING WILL SIMPLY PERISH LIKE THE BEASTS (PSALMS 49:16). The Psalm ends with the assurance that there is no need to fear, or be puzzled, when the rich flo... [ Continue Reading ]