Lesson 471 - Senior
Memory Verse
"Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish" (Psalm 49:12).
Cross References
I The Call for All to Hear
1. The universal call goes out to all people and inhabitants, [PS:49:1]; [PS:34:11]; [PS:78:1].
2. God is not a respecter of persons, [PS:49:2]; [ACT:10:34].
3. Wisdom and understanding are explained in parable form, [PS:49:3-4]; [PS:19:14]; [PRO:2:2], [PRO:2:10-11]; [PS:78:2]; [MAT:13:35].
II The Vanity of Trusting in Wealth
1. The love of God removes fear, [PS:49:5]; [PS:27:1-2]; [HEB:12:1].
2. Wealth is powerless to redeem a soul, [PS:49:6-8]; [PS:30:6]; [PS:37:16] [ECC:4:8]; [JOB:36:18-19]; [1PE:1:18-19].
III Death Is Appointed to the Wise and the Fool
1. The wise and the fool alike perish from the earth, [PS:49:9-10]; [PS:37:35-36]; [ECC:2:16]; [HEB:9:27]; [MAT:25:46].
2. The wicked leave God out of their plans as though they would live forever, [PS:49:11-14]; [LUK:12:21]; [JAM:4:13-17].
IV Righteous and Wicked in Eternity
1. The hope of the Resurrection is a lively hope, [PS:49:15]; [PS:73:24]; [JOB:19:25-27]; [1CO:15:20-22], [1CO:15:54-57]; [1TS:4:13-18].
2. The end of the wicked is darkness, [PS:49:16-20]; [LUK:16:19-31]; [JOB:18:5].
Notes
The Call
The 49th Psalm opens with a universal call to all people of all the world. It reminds us of the call of Christ in [MAT:11:28]: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The subject about to be taken up is of world-wide importance and interest to all. To consider the brief and deceitful prosperity of the wicked and God's plan of redemption is of equal importance to the Hebrew and foreign nations. World, used in this instance, could mean duration, a period of time, or those of this age. God is not a respecter of persons (See [ACT:10:34-35]) and calls the low as well as the high, the rich as well as the poor. God's invitation to the "whomsoever" stands yet today. The Psalmist's thoughts on wisdom and understanding remind us of [PS:111:10]: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"
A parable is often a story using earthly and understandable objects or things to explain or express a heavenly or spiritual meaning. The use of music for a vehicle to carry such a message is often used. Some of King David's most profound utterances were written to be sung.
Why Fear?
The fifth verse asks the question, "Wherefore should I fear?" The writer had a confidence in the power and mercy of God that enabled him to lay aside all fear. The Apostle John said, "Perfect love casteth out fear"
([1JN:4:18]). Evil days and trials may come; all will not be smooth sailing and quietness, but "if God be for us, who can be against us?" The crafty and cunning who would lie in wait for us will be dispatched by God, according to His wisdom.
Cost of Redemption
Those who trust in wealth and worldly power are absolutely helpless when it comes to redeeming their brother or paying the value of a soul or life that is destined for a lost eternity. The Word of God informs us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We are also told that, "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." This being the case, it would be an impossibility for one sinner to die for another man's sins or in his stead, for he must pay the penalty for his own sin.
The words "redeem" and "ransom" are two Levitical words for regaining that which has been legally forfeited Where life had become forfeited, an equivalent, or satisfaction, was paid as in the case of the ``firstborn" [EXO:13:12-13]). This had to do with sacrifices. The redemption price of man's soul is precious, too costly for man to pay. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [MAT:16:26]). Only God can redeem a soul [PS:49:15]). The writer is speaking here especially of ungodly men who trust in their earthly wealth and power. "It ceaseth for ever" indicates that man is powerless to redeem himself or his brother. The price is too costly and precious. It is forever wanting. (See [DAN:5:27].)
When God created man, it was quite different from His creation of the animals. He "made the beast of the earth after his kind, . . . and God saw that it was good" [GEN:1:25]). When He "formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul" [GEN:2:7]), there was a marked difference between the animal kingdom and man, the capsheaf of God's creation. Only of man was it said that he "became a living soul." In regard to eternity the Scripture teaches us that man does not die as an animal. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" [HEB:9:27]).
God's Plan of Redemption
God had a plan of salvation and redemption for mankind from the time that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden. He covered their nakedness with skins, denoting the shedding of blood. Abel, Noah, Abraham and the patriarchs of old, on down through the Levitical priesthood, made atonement by the offering of blood sacrifices. God planned the perfect sacrifice by the sending of His only begotten Son to die on Calvary. Had it been possible for man to redeem his brother or himself, this would never have been necessary, but God "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" [ROM:8:32]). Because of man's own depraved and sinful nature with the penalty of death already abiding on him, he is helpless to provide a ransom. The pure, holy and sinless Christ left Heaven above to come down to this world to die in our stead. "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" [2CO:5:21]). In that Jesus knew no sin, He is the only one who qualified to take our place in the bearing of the penalty of death and become our Redeemer that the death penalty might be satisfied, thus paying our ransom. The Apostle Peter wrote: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" [1PE:1:18-19]). Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" [JHN:10:10]).
Certain Death.
It is foolish to contemplate that any should offer a price for even the release of his body from death, "that he should still live for ever, and not see corruption." We know of very few who live past 100 years of age. Many with their wealth and power have sought to extend their lives, but this at best is for only a season. Enoch and Elijah are the two exceptions to the rule of death thus far. The saints of the Rapture have this to which to look forward. Those who have sought to purchase indulgences and favour in this life will never get by the great tribunal of the White Throne Judgment. They will answer for their sins, if they have not repented and been forgiven, sending their sins on before. Death is not a respecter of persons either. The pale rider calls at the homes of the wealthy and high as well as of the poor and lowly. Station has nothing to do with the eternal edict of God. Kings, rulers, the wealthy, and the men of brilliant earthly wisdom die. The dull and foolish, those given to savage tempers, living for the satisfaction of appetite and passion, also die. The wise of this earth, by man's wisdom, can be fools forever by leaving God out of their plans. Solomon said: "Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity" [ECC:2:18-19]).
Some live as though they could live forever. Their plans are always for the future without thought that the future is in God's hands. The rich man referred to in [LUK:12:16-21], "thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?" "And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take shine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." If the wise cannot save his body from temporal death, how can he save his soul, or his brother's, from death, spiritual and eternal?
The transitory nature of man is shown by "man being in honour abideth not," or remaineth not, using the simile of the beasts that perish without warning. For all of man's wisdom, he is subject to age, decline and death. God told Adam: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; . . . for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" [GEN:3:19]). Though man in his folly has not learned to regard God's laws, his posterity has eulogized his sayings of worldly wisdom and followed the same course. Death has dominion over those who do not avail themselves of the redeeming grace of God through the new birth. The upright will have dominion on the resurrection morning. Those who have not sought their own wealth, but the Kingdom of God, will inherit all that the worldly wisdom brought to those who sold their very souls to obtain it. The power, glory, wealth and dominion come to them through having sought "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness."
Hope of Resurrection
God will redeem the souls of the righteous from the grave. The Psalmist is not saying that the righteous will not die physically even as the one who neglects his soul's salvation. What he is saying is that in the matter of redemption from death there is a vast difference. "For he shall receive me," indicates God will take him to be with Him. (See [GEN:5:24].) Be not anxious or afraid, "Fret not thyself" [PS:37:1]), for death cuts off the dreaded wicked. When he dies, he takes nothing with him. The question is often asked, "How much did he leave?" There is only one correct answer, and that is "All." Those who depart without redeeming grace enter into the most abject darkness of all. "They shall never see light" means separation from God, a lost eternity, no spiritual joy, no hope (see [JOB:18:5]). They will have a resurrection, yes, but to what? Damnation [JHN:5:29]). On the contrary, the righteous, according to God's Word, have the hope of "the life that now is, and of that which is to come" [1TM:4:8]). Moses said, "O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!" [DEU:32:29]).
[1JN:1:9] tells us: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This is the way to take advantage of God's plan of redemption. To give the correct judgment on things we must consider time in the light of eternity. It is not wealth or poverty that will permit us to escape the penalty of sin and God's wrath, but the redemption through the Blood of Jesus Christ that brings righteousness and grace.
Questions
1. To whom is the Psalm addressed?
2. What are the first subjects taken up?
3. What form of presentation is announced?
4. Was the Psalmist fearful?
5. What were the rich and wealthy unable to do?
6. What is the value of a soul?
7. Which has the better chance of eternal life, the wise or the fool?
8. What is one of the main thoughts of the rich?
p>9. Who will have dominion in the resurrection morning?10. Who has power to redeem a soul?
11. How much does the rich man take with him when he dies?
12. How much light will he have in eternity if he has left God out Of his plans?