Did you ever have something so important to say that you wanted the whole world to hear it? If we take a look at the first verse of our Psalm for today which is Psalm 49, the writer is asking for everyone’s attention. The poor along with the rich, the high and the low. The reason he wanted everyone to hear him was because people from all walks of life will try to buy their redemption one way or another It won’t work though because neither wealth nor works will get anyone to heaven.
Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God. Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave. Psalm 49:7-9
The writer of this Psalm said, Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! High and low, rich and poor—listen!
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He goes on to say, For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. What could be so important that he wanted the ears of everyone to hear? It was like a light bulb in his mind illuminated a truth he just had to share with the world.
Verse 5 says, Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? It dawned on him, just because they had wealth and riches here on the earth, that wouldn’t help them at all when they died. He said, they trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. But no matter how much they have, they don’t have enough to pay to redeem themselves from death.
Wealth Won’t get Anyone to Heaven
The Psalmist says redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever and never see the grave. These verses go on to say that everyone is going to die, the wise, the foolish, and the senseless. And no one will be able to take anything with them.
He goes on to say in verse 16, don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. Why? Because their bodies will rot in the grave, far from their grand estates. I realize that we are painting a gruesome picture, but this is the picture the Psalmist is hanging in front of us.
If we take a look at the first verse again, the writer is asking for everyone’s attention. The poor along with the rich, the high and the low. The reason he wanted everyone to hear him was because people from all walks of life will try to buy their redemption.
They do it by giving money to the church or the poor and needy thinking that they will receive credit to get into heaven. Or they think doing good deeds by volunteering in various ways and serving others through the church or other organizations will secure them entrance through the pearly gates.
As much as all these efforts are good, they will not buy anybody’s redemption. In our scripture for today, we read, for no one can ever pay enough to live forever. But then, no one has to pay for it because the price has already been paid.
Redemption Doesn’t Come by Works
Verse 8 says Redemption does not come so easily. And it isn’t easy if we try to get it on our own. It can however easily be obtained. Jesus paid the ransom! He has made redemption available for all who will call upon His name. Trying to get into heaven by any other means will end up in total failure.
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What is sad though are those who are convinced that they can get into heaven by anything other than accepting Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross. They are going to have a very rude awakening when they enter eternity.
You see, the Psalmist did have some thoughts filled with insight. In verse 19 he wrote, they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day. When someone goes into eternity without Jesus, they never will see the light of day again.
Jesus said, of those who reject him, they will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They will be cut off from all people and be subjects of eternal punishment.
God will Redeem my Life
It’s time to paint an uplifting and encouraging picture. The Psalmist is confident in his place with the Lord. He said in verse 15, But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will snatch me from the power of the grave.
We can also be confident that we will have a place in heaven as well. There is no guesswork about it when we have received Jesus as our Savior. He told His disciples that he was going to prepare a place for us that where He is there we can be also.
I wrote a post called How To Continually Rely On The Grace Of God that you might be interested in reading. Grace is a much better way to access God than relying on wealth or works to get anyone to heaven.
Lord, help us to never rely on our works and wealth to try to get into heaven. Thank you that your Son, Jesus redeemed us by paying our ransom in full.
You would enjoy reading the cornerstone post on discipleship called How To Be An Effective Devoted Disciple Of Jesus.
Read all of Psalm 49 by clicking here.
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