Compare and contrast

 

Hi! Here we are again, back at Psalm 49. Ready to dig in?

This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail 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;
    he will surely take me to himself. (Psalm 49:13-15)

The psalmist is using a concept here called "compare and contrast." To make a long language arts class short, there will be a description of two things that are very different - we'll be able to see a significant difference between them.

The foolish ignore eternity and trust in their riches, but the godly look to God to redeem and receive them.

Up until now, the songwriter has told us his "riddle," and then has given us some advice, saying that wealth and power are short term, and that neither of those things can help someone avoid death. Now, he's adding a new thought. He says that not only are those people foolish for ignoring the facts, but so are the people who watch them, admire them, and don't learn the lesson! In other words, there are people who watch the rich accumulate their wealth and envy their power over other people -- and then they see them die and leave it all behind.

But they still don't get it!

They still long for earthly riches. They still count and re-count their possessions. They don't take any notice of spiritual things. They just blindly trundle along - in fact, in verse fourteen the psalmist calls them "sheep" who mindlessly browse along in the grass. These are not sheep who know the Lord as their shepherd; the psalmist says that death is their shepherd. And that even if they live in "princely" mansions now, they will not always live there.

Now, we said that there was going to be a contrast - did you see it start in verse fourteen? "The upright will prevail over them in the morning." That phrase "in the morning" is a ray of hope for those who are currently oppressed by the ruthless rich. It is pointing to a brand new day, when God will right all wrongs. Then, in verse fifteen, the psalmist says "But God will redeem my soul . . . " The matter of fact way that he says this makes us think that the hope of life with God was very real to him. 

The Hebrew word used when he says God will "receive me" is the same one that is used when the Bible describes God taking Enoch to heaven. We know that the hope of heaven became much clearer when our Savior came and explained things more clearly, but isn't it wonderful to find it here in the Old Testament as well!

So, this is why the psalmist offers a "compare and contrast" argument in answer to his own riddle. He says that those who trust in their riches will be consigned to Sheol, but the upright will be welcomed into heaven by God. He will redeem their souls from the power of the grave. 

Jesus paid the price that our sins deserved. We may go free by faith in Him. If we trust in His blood, God will receive us and welcome us into heaven!