Observation of The Prosperity of The Wicked
August 2, 2019
Commentary
This Psalm is about poor rich people who have money, but that is all they have. The power of wealth only tends to make men proud and think they do not need God (vv. 1-2). The psalmist is determined to share with the world what God has taught him (vv. 3-4). His faith in God and God’s promise to sustain him is strong. Therefore when men lie in wait to ensnare him he has no fears (v. 5). They put their hope and trust in their money (v. 6). The writer tries to show that this is a foolish thing to do (vv. 7-9). Money can buy pleasure, but not peace, it can buy men but it cannot buy God. Rich or poor, wise or foolish, all men die and that which they have accumulated in this life will be left behind (v. 10).
We all must remember that, although the honor of a man may live on in his family estate bearing his name, nevertheless the man himself is like the beasts that perish (vv. 11-15). Man brings nothing into this life and he will take nothing out. Hebrews 9:27 says “It is appointed unto man once to die but after this the judgement.” All men will be laid in the grave, should the Lord not return before their death. It is truly a sad commentary on our society when those who have accumulated a great deal of wealth look on that wealth for their salvation. This Psalm does not make being rich a sin. It only warns of what riches can lead to. The sin lies in trusting in our riches. It is not money that is the root of all evil, but it is the love of it (I Tim. 6:10) and even the poor can be guilty of this.
Application
Have I ever thought of my self as being rich? Most of us who live in America are very rich in comparison to people in other parts of the world. We have many things today such as cars, refrigerators, etc. that kings of old would have loved to have had. Lord help me to me more thankful.
Psalms 49:1– 15 (NET)
1 Listen to this, all you nations. Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world.
2 Pay attention, all you people, both rich and poor.
3 I will declare a wise saying; I will share my profound thoughts.
4 I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp.
5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me?
6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price
8 (the ransom price for a human life is too high, and people go to their final destiny),
9 so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death.
10 Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,
12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last. They are like animals that perish.
13 This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy. (Selah)
14 They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns. Sheol will consume their bodies, and they will no longer live in impressive houses.
15 But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol; certainly he will pull me to safety. (Selah)