Psalm 49 was written for all people. The wisdom and insight sound like something Solomon would have written, but David, his father, was also a wise man. We really don't know who the psalmist was, but bible students believe it was written in a time when Israel and Judah were experiencing a real wealth boom; and like it is with all people, where there are the rich, there are the exploited poor.
In this Psalm we have both advice for the rich and encouragement for the poor. Ultimately:
* Money cannot buy eternal life.
* Money doesn't bring us into a closer relationship with God, or helps us understand better.
"But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish." Psalm 49:12
"A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish." Psalm 49:20
REDEMPTION - Read Psalm 49:1-11
Redemption does not come through worldly things. It only comes through knowing Jesus Christ.
"I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth." Job 12:25
In these verses in Psalm 49, we are introduced to people who use their money to do bad things, to hurt those who `can't fight back'. It's hard to see the rich prosper, but ultimately their wealth cannot buy them a place in Heaven.
Holy Bible - New International Bible
www.easyenglish.info. "You Cannot Buy Heaven" - Gordon Churchyard
www.biblestudytools. Matthew Henry's Commentary
The Treasury of David - Charles Spurgeon
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." Mark 10:25
Whether you are rich or poor, Jesus died so you could have redemption - forgiveness from your sin and eternal life with Him. Although it may seem bad for a while, our future with God is what we can look forward to.
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us." Romans 8:18
FOLLOW A FOOL OR FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD - Read Psalm 49:12-15
Who is a fool? Someone who trusts in his own fame and wealth - which will ultimately disappear. A fool is also someone who follows the ways and teachings of someone like this. These people, the psalmist tells us, `will end up in Sheol' - where their bodies will waste away.
On the other side we have the Good Shepherd - Jesus Christ, who will lead the righteous to Heaven. Many Christians believe that "in the morning" is the waking up from dying - where the saved and redeemed will be in Heaven, and the "fools" will decay in the grave or will go to hell.
"In the morning" those who have been wealthy on earth will find that they could take it with him. It will have withered, faded, decayed and passed away. The poor saints, who they once ridiculed and despised would be in Heaven, ruling over them.
Believers need not fear death and they need not be afraid of rich people, for money cannot buy eternal life. This only comes from following the Good Shepherd.
"My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand." John 10:27
"But God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take Him to Himself." Psalm 49:15
PREACHING FROM EXPERIENCE - Read Psalm 49:16-20
In these last verses the Psalmist takes on the role of Preacher. He changes the tone of the psalm and it become admonitory, as he speaks from experience.
* Temporal prosperity is something we should not worry about. When a wealthy man dies he can take nothing with him.
"Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendour of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies." Psalm 49:16
*Truth and righteousness will prevail. The wealthy may be `No 1' on earth, but they won't have the same fame in Heaven. What we have to look forward to is the joy and hope that come from becoming a follower of Jesus Christ.
*Redemption and life is not found in riches, but in the blood of Jesus Christ.
