Psalm 49

Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 17, 2022

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Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together! My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. - (Psalm 49:1–20, ESV)

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A riddle set to music? "Why should I fear in times of trouble?"

Those who cheat, those who trust in riches, are deluded. They expect no times of trouble. They expect no end to their life. They expect no difficulty in paying a ransom of high price.

But I do.

No earthly treasure house can ransom a cheater's life from God's judgement. Surely the cheater sees people die: the wise, the fool, the stupid...they all die, leaving their earthly treasures to others. The pomp of humankind is not a source of preservation from death.

Rich or poor, foolish self-confidence and pride cannot change reality: we will die. Our bodies will turn to dust and ash. Our life will be dead: no home, no parents, no children, no friends, no interests, no purpose.

But.

God promises to ransom my soul. God promises to make upright those who are dead. God promises to ransom my soul from the power of Sheol.

What is the answer to the riddle? How can I have no fear in times of trouble?

The Solution is God.

In God I trust.