 Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor together! 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, 8 for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 9 that he should live on forever and never see the pit. 10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. 12 Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah 14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. 15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah 16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. 17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. 18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself— 19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. 20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. Meditation During the COVID19 pandemic economists and policy makers valued the American life at ten million dollars in an effort to weigh the cost of shutting down the economy. But ten million dollars cannot buy life or freedom from death. Today’s Psalm of “wisdom” and “understanding” is a “proverb” to music (3-4) with a clear melody line declaring that God alone will ransom the wise from death (15), all whose trust is in the Lord over and above everything else- especially our riches. The Psalmist’s direction is for all people of the earth (1-4) to listen to and discern the way of wisdom. People who trust in their wealth to ransom them from death are fools (5-9). Death is the destiny of all and no one controls their wealth after death (10-13). We carry nothing with us to; earthly glory cannot go down to the grave (16-17). God’s sovereign grace will save the wise who trust in Him. God alone ransoms us from death (15). Wisdom walks the path of trusting God, using wealth as a vehicle to build His kingdom. Wisdom seeks to be rich in good works (1 Timothy 6:17-19), faith from our hearts evidenced by laying up treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Let the wise person boast not in riches but only in this, that you know the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Jesus gave His life to ransom His people from the grave. Jesus values our life as worth more than ten million dollars and His grace saves us so that we can invest our time, treasure, and talents for His eternal glory. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the contrast between the wise and fool in regards to wealth and death? -In all honesty, where is the focus of your faith- on your wealth (or lack thereof) or the riches of God’s sovereign grace? -How does the richness of God’s grace evidenced by Jesus’ finished work grab your heart and grow you in trusting God, seeing the ultimate cost Jesus paid to ransom you? Give thanks for this reality as you specifically name an area where you can trust Him more. Key Verse 15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me
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