GOD WILL REDEEM ME FROM DEATH

Passage: Psalms 49:1-20

Key verse: 15

NIV

Psalm 49[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 Hear(A) this, all you peoples;(B)
    listen, all who live in this world,(C)
2 both low and high,(D)
    rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(E)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(F)
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;(G)
    with the harp(H) I will expound my riddle:(I)

5 Why should I fear(J) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth(K)
    and boast(L) of their great riches?(M)
7 No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
8 the ransom(N) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(O)
9 so that they should live on(P) forever
    and not see decay.(Q)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(R)
    that the foolish and the senseless(S) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(T) to others.(U)
11 Their tombs(V) will remain their houses[b] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,(W)
    though they had[c] named(X) lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(Y)
    they are like the beasts that perish.(Z)

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(AA)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(AB) to die;(AC)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail(AD) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(AE)
    he will surely take me to himself.(AF)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(AG) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.(AH)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(AI)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(AJ)
    who will never again see the light(AK) of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(AL)
    are like the beasts that perish.(AM)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
  2. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  3. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  4. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah.

49 (B)Hear this, all peoples!
    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 (C)both low and high,
    rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak (D)wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to (E)a proverb;
    I will solve my (F)riddle to the music of the lyre.

5 (G)Why should I fear in (H)times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who (I)trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man (J)can ransom another,
    or (K)give to God (L)the price of his life,
8 for (M)the ransom of their life is costly
    and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
    and (N)never see the pit.

10 For he sees (O)that even the wise die;
    (P)the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and (Q)leave their wealth to others.
11 Their (R)graves are their homes forever,[a]
    their dwelling places (S)to all generations,
    though they (T)called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp (U)will not remain;
    (V)he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the path of those who have (W)foolish confidence;
    yet after them people approve of their boasts.[b] Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright (X)shall rule over them in the morning.
    (Y)Their form shall be consumed (Z)in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will (AA)ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will (AB)receive me. Selah

16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
17 (AC)For when he dies he will (AD)carry nothing away;
    his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself (AE)blessed
    —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will (AF)go to the generation of his fathers,
    who will never again (AG)see light.
20 (AH)Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew Their inward thought was that their homes were forever
  2. Psalm 49:13 Or and of those after them who approve of their boasts
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, those who trust in their wealth (1-14). This is a wisdom psalm. The psalmist considers the fact that the rich and the poor alike all die someday. What good is it to boast in riches when one’s wealth can’t buy them salvation or eternal life? No money can buy that for us. Jesus also talked about this (Mk 8:36). Rich fools who have no investment in God are like animals that perish. Those who trust in themselves are like sheep with death as their shepherd. They will decay, far from their princely mansions.

Second, God will redeem me (15-2

). Wise people have faith and hope in God. God will redeem them from death and take them to himself. No one can take worldly wealth with them when they die. Only God can redeem us from the grave and bring us to the light of life. People with wealth but no understanding are like perishing animals. To have understanding and wisdom is to live with faith and hope and life-investment in God.

Prayer: Lord God, I recognize it is foolish to live for money or things or worldly pleasures, which all perish. Only you give eternal life. Thank you for giving us hope and salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

One Word: God will redeem me from death