God’s Renewing Word of Wisdom
Introduction
Psalm 49: Written in the wisdom tradition, the psalm writer urges his audience not to put much emphasis on wealth. While all people die – both wise and foolish, both rich and poor – the writer attests that God’s power is greater than the power of death.
Scripture Reading
The Foolishness of Trusting in Riches
49 Hear this, everyone!
Listen, all people everywhere,
2 great and small alike,
rich and poor together.
3 My thoughts will be clear;
I will speak words of wisdom.
4 I will turn my attention to proverbs
and explain their meaning as I play the harp.
5 I am not afraid in times of danger
when I am surrounded by enemies,
6 by evil people who trust in their riches
and boast of their great wealth.
7 We can never redeem ourselves;
we cannot pay God the price for our lives,
8 because the payment for a human life is too great.
What we could pay would never be enough
9 to keep us from the grave,
to let us live forever.
10 Anyone can see that even the wise die,
as well as the foolish and stupid.
They all leave their riches to their descendants.
11 Their graves are their homes forever;
there they stay for all time,
though they once had lands of their own.
12 Our greatness cannot keep us from death;
we will still die like the animals.
13 See what happens to those who trust in themselves,
the fate of those who are satisfied with their wealth—
14 they are doomed to die like sheep,
and Death will be their shepherd.
The righteous will triumph over them,
as their bodies quickly decay
in the world of the dead far from their homes.
15 But God will rescue me;
he will save me from the power of death.
16 Don’t be upset when someone becomes rich,
when his wealth grows even greater;
17 he cannot take it with him when he dies;
his wealth will not go with him to the grave.
18 Even if someone is satisfied with this life
and is praised because he is successful,
19 he will join all his ancestors in death,
where the darkness lasts forever.
20 Our greatness cannot keep us from death;
we will still die like the animals.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 49:7, 8a
We can never redeem ourselves; we cannot pay God the price for our lives, because the payment for a human life is too great.
Reflect
Where does wealth fit in the list of things that are important in your life? How do you understand what the psalmist is saying about wealth? Why, according to the psalmist, should you not envy those who are rich (verses 16, 17)? What is the ultimate message of this psalm?
Pray
Lord God, fill my life with the treasure of your Word so I may live right. Take away the desire to want the goods the world offers and let me be content to rely on you and your Word alone. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Proverbs 10:1-32: Good people will be blessed.