Psalms 49:13

_THIS THEIR WAY IS THEIR FOLLY: YET THEIR POSTERITY APPROVE THEIR SAYINGS. SELAH._ This their way (is) their folly - "their way," whereby they virtually think themselves immortal, and therefore desire their houses to continue forever, wise as they regard it, "is their folly," as the event shows. Or "way" may be taken as their portion, their lot, as in Psalms 1:6; Psalms 37:5; then translate, 'This (is) their way, (their fate, so there is) folly to them' - i:e., they are by the event convicted of folly. YET THEIR POSTERITY APPROVE THEIR SAYINGS - literally, 'delight in their mouth;' i:e., in their maxims of living, especially in their boastful speeches, promising themselves immortality, and "calling their lands after their own names." They have "a mouth speaking great things" ...

13_This their way is foolishness _As this verse has been variously rendered, I shall briefly, before giving my own sense of it, state the views which have been taken by others. As the Hebrew word כסל _, kesel, _which I have translated _foolishness, _occasionally means _the kidneys, _some refine upon the term, and consider it to be here taken for _fat; _as if this imagination of theirs were, so to speak, fat which stupified and rendered their senses obtuse. But this reading is too forced to bear examination. Others read, _This their way is their folly; _(226) that is, the reason why they pursue such a line of conduct is, that they are destitute of sound judgment; for, were they not utterly devoid of it, and did they possess one spark of intelligence, would they not reflect upon the end for which they were created, and direct their minds to higher obje

6-14 Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A man may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart. But with all their wealth they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemption to be wrought out by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul shall cost very dear; but, being once wrought, it shall never need to be repeated. And he, the Redeemer, shall rise again before he sees corruption, and then shall live for evermore, Revelation 1:18. This likewise shows...

Verse Psalms 49:13. _THEIR POSTERITY APPROVE THEIR SAYINGS._] Go the same way; adopt their maxims....

THIS THEIR WAY IS THEIR FOLLY - This might be rendered, “This is their way or course of life. It is their folly;” or, such is their folly. On the word “way,” see the notes at Psalms 1:6. The idea is, that it is folly for a man to cherish these hopes; to feel that wealth is of so much importance; to imagine that it can deliver from the grave; to suppose that he can perpetuate his own name, and secure his possessions in his own family upon the earth. And yet the world is still full of people as foolish as were those in the time of the psalmist; people who will not be admonished by the suggestions of reason, or by the experience of 6,000 years in the past. This is one thing in which the world makes no progress - in which it learns nothing from the experience of the past; and as the beaver under the influence of instinct builds his house and his home now in the same way t

EXPOSITION THIS is a didactic poem, and resembles in some respects Psalms 37:1, and Psalms 73:1. It deals with the same problem—the contrast between the lot of the righteous man, whom the wicked persecute continually (Psalms 73:5), and these wicked themselves, who are wealthy and prosperous, found families, leave them their wealth, and even "call their lands after their own names" (Psalms 73:6, Psalms 73:10, Psalms 73:11). The problem is solve

THIS THEIR WAY [IS] THEIR FOLLY,.... This their last end becoming like the beasts that perish, which is the issue and event of all their confidence, ambition, and honour, shows the folly of their lives and conduct: or this their course of life, in trusting to their riches; boasting of their wealth; pleasing themselves with the thoughts of the continuance of their houses and dwelling places to all generations; and calling their lands after their own names; all proclaim their folly. Or, as some render the words, "this their way [is] their hope" or "confidence" b; they place all their hope and confidence in their riches and honour, which is but a vain hope and a foolish confidence; YET THEIR POSTERITY APPROVE THEIR SAYINGS; they are of the same sentiments with their fathers; they say the same things, and do the same actions; tread in their steps, and follow the same track; though there hav...

The chief musician here bids us not to fear the ungodly. However high they may be placed, they are but dying men, and when they die their hope shall perish with them. He gives a very graphic description of the deathbed and of the perdition of ungodly men. Psalms 49:1. _Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: both low and high, rich and poor, together._ Whenever God has a voice for men, it is meant for all sorts of men. No Scripture is of private interpretation. No warning is intended only for a few. Hear ye this, then, all ye people. Whether ye be low, ye are not too low to listen to his voice; or, whether ye be high, ye are not too high to be under his supremacy. Psalms 49:3. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart sh

Psalms 49 Retrospects and Meditations _ 1. Hear this, all ye peoples! (Psalms 49:1)_ 2. His message of retrospect and encouragement (Psalms 49:5) If such is the outcome and the goal of the purposes of God concerning His people, why should they fear in the days of evil, which precede the coming glory? The ungodly will pass away no matter how great their riches are, nor can they redeem themselves; their way is folly; like sheep they are laid in the grave and death feeds on them. But different is the lot of the righteous. They shall have dominion over them in the morning, when the night of suffering and trouble is ended. They will be redeemed from the power of the grave and He shall receive them, “for He

XLIX. THE IMMORTALITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS. The poet takes a popular proverb for his theme. This proverb recurs as a refrain in Psalms 49:12 and Psalms 49:20, and it probably stood originally after Psalms 49:8 and Psalms 49:15 also. Adopting this supposition we find that the Ps. falls into five parts, Psalms 49:1; Psalms 49:5; Psalms 49:9;...