Psalms 49:1

“God Will Redeem my Soul”

The Bible says in Psalms 49:1-4, “hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye 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.”

Here is a Psalms which was written and intended for all men to hear. Low and high, rich and poor together Psalms 49 is a Psalm for all the world. This means God specifically had you as an individual in mind when He gave these words. And not surprisingly Psalms 49 is a Psalms about redemption.

Psalms 49:5-7, “Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels 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.”

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil? In other words when bad things happen to you especially when death comes your way do you have reason to be afraid. Well yes you do if you do not know the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior.

It is not a sin to be rich but the temptation is to trust in riches instead of God. Oh how easy it is for men to trust in physical things instead of trusting in God: your intelligence, your youth, your abilities, your friends and family, and especially your money.

Jesus said in Matthew 19:23-24 “a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Well how many millionaires or billionaires do you know that love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ?

What these verses in Psalms are pointing out is that wealth cannot keep a person from the power of the grave. Everyone dies. At best a person will live a long life and die of old age. These are basic facts of life that all men should take the time to consider both rich or poor. IF you are rich you will die. If you are poor you will die.

Psalms 49:7 says, “None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” The word redeem is a word that both in the New Testament and Old Testament has the idea of being bought out of slavery, the slavery of sin.

Man cannot give to God a ransom man cannot of his own effort defeat death nor the power of the grave. To give a ransom to God would be similar to thinking that through your own efforts you can attain righteousness. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

There is no ransom man can give to God but there is a ransom that God has given, His only begotten Son. Mark 10:45 says, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” I Timothy 2:6 says, “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. ”

Psalms 49:8-9 says “(For the redemption of their souls is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should life for ever, and not see corruption.”What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul. All men must die and then they must stand before God to be judged for their deeds. Because all men are sinners without the righteousness of Christ there can be only judgment. The redemption of a soul is precious. This is the reason that Jesus became the ransom and shed his blood for your sins.

Psalms 49:10-14“For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward though is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 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.”

These verses are just another way of saying that all men die Riches cannot keep a person from death neither can fame. Even if history remembers you you still will be dead.

Psalms 49:15“But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me Selah.” There is only one way to have victory over the grave and that is to repent of your sins to Jesus Christ. In Christ there is eternal life.

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