Psalm 49 - The Folly of Trusting in Riches

Psalm 49 with comments by Dennis Edwards

Psalm 49:1-4 Hear this, all you people; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

Like we see in the book of Job or in Ecclesiastes, the author is looking at the big questions of injustice that takes place in life. Like Solomon, the author comes to the same conclusion: death is the equalizer. Music is often a vehicle used to express the deep questions of life.

Psalm 49:5-9 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels (adversaries) shall compass me about? They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

Solomon concluded in a similar manner: “There is no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither has he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it,” Ecclesiastes 8:8.

He continued, “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before Him. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God,” Ecclesiastes 8:12-13.

In other word, living in the fear of God and keeping His commandments is more important than having success and wealth.

Psalm 49:10-11 For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.  Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

Solomon wrote, “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. For man also knows not his time (to die): as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them,” Ecclesiastes 9:11-12.

Psalm 49:12 Nevertheless man being in honour abides not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

In other words, if we are only living for this present world, then we are no better than animals. We are on the wide road that leads to destruction and many there be that are going in there at. “But straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it,” Matthew 7:14.

Psalm 49:14-15 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me. Selah.

Here we see the hope of the resurrection or the continuance of the life of the soul after death. Since the time of the fall of man, God had promised to send a Redeemer who would defeat the serpent and bring mankind back into relationship with God. Throughout the Old Testament we find that hope: in Job, in the Psalms, and in Isaiah.

In Job, written around 2,000 BC in the time of Abraham, we find, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my organs be consumed within me,” Job 19:25-27.

Psalm 49:16-17 Be not afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

Apostle Paul warns us likewise, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to give to the needy. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out,” 1 Timothy 6:17-20&7.

In Proverbs we read similarly, “Labour not to be rich: cease from your own wisdom. Will you set your eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven,” Proverbs 23:4-5.

Or as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes,” Ecclesiastes 5:10-11.

It seems the writers are focusing on the fact that the physical world by itself leaves us empty. Apostle John wrote, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, are not of the Father, but are of the world. And the world passes away, and the lusts thereof, but he that does the will of God abides forever,” 1 John 2:16-17.

For that reason, Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be, also,” Matthew 6:19-21.

Psalm 49:18-20 Though while he lived, he blessed his soul: and men will praise you, when you do well to yourself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man, that is in honour, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.

Jesus told the people, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses,” Luke 12:15.

He went on and told the parable of the rich man who wanted to build bigger barns to hoard his riches. Jesus continued the story, “And I (the rich man) will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, ‘You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?’ So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God,” Luke 12:19-21.

When the rich young man came to Jesus seeking for advice, probably because his riches weren’t bringing him the happiness he sought, Jesus told him, “If you will be perfect (mature or whole), go and sell that which you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me,” Matthew 19:21.

“But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions,” Matthew 19:22. He had come to Jesus seeking for solutions for why even with all his wealth he was unhappy and unfulfilled. Yet, when Jesus gave him the answer, he refused to follow because he loved the world and the things of the world, more than He loved God and the things of God.  

Jesus’ call to discipleship is the same today. “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels,” Mark 8:34-38.