Psalm 49 - Brutal Honesty

Psalm 49:1-3, 7-11, 16-20 NIV

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world, 

both low and high, rich and poor alike: 

My mouth will speak words of wisdom; 

the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. 

No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them— 

the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough— 

so that they should live on forever and not see decay. 

For all can see that the wise die, 

that the foolish and the senseless also perish, 

leaving their wealth to others. 

Their tombs will remain their houses forever, 

their dwellings for endless generations, 

though they had named lands after themselves. 

Do not be overawed when others grow rich, 

when the splendor of their houses increases; 

for they will take nothing with them when they die, 

their splendor will not descend with them. 

Though while they live they count themselves blessed— 

and people praise you when you prosper— 

they will join those who have gone before them, 

who will never again see the light of life. 

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.

When Bob Dylan came on the scene in the sixties the poet singer songwriter raised a lot of eyebrows. His brutal honesty and critical view of the world angered some while enlightening others.

Psalm 49 is sort of Dylanesque. The writer of the psalm is singing a dirge against the rich. His hope is to raise the hopes of the poor, which was 98% or 99% of the populace. The rich often create poverty whether they realize it or not.

The message is simple. You can't take it with you.

You have to look hard for some good news in this dirge. There are two bits I see.

First, the rich who lack understanding of God, God's compassion for the poor, God's sense of justice and equity, are to be pitied. They should not be celebrated on the Lives of the Rich and Famous or some other pop rag. Their wealth gives then no advantage at the end. They cannot have enough treasure or assets to buy eternal life when death comes.

It's a painful truth, but truth is always freeing. When the blinders are lifted we see better and a whole new life unfolds before us.

Jesus said, in Mark 8:36-37 NIV,

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"

That brings me to the next bit of good news. There is hope for poor and rich alike. Notice that the writer of the psalm addresses both the rich and the poor. If there was no hope for the rich why would they be addressed at all?

The psalm says no one can redeem a life. No one can give God enough payment to save them from death and decay. In light of the gospel, isn't this just screaming for a response? Since no one can pay enough to purchase their soul from the grave, God paid the costly price for all of us. The price was God's own death. God came to us in Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever would believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

And that's the honest truth.