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. I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle: Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? 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. (Psalm 49:1-9 NIV)
This Psalm is calling people from every social status to listen to the wisdom being shared through his words and music. Like some song writers of today the writer has an agenda which he wants to convey to the world. He asks why we should fear when evil days come and implies that when we have given our will and our lives over to the care of God, we have nothing to fear.
Some people may trust in their wealth and boast of the great riches they can enjoy while they are alive. However, can wealth and great riches redeem their lives from the grave? What sum of money would it cost for God to allow someone’s life to go on forever? The writer states that “the ransom for a life is costly.” The extravagant price of eternal life is the life given for each one of us by God’s only begotten son Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)
The apostle Peter, an eye witness to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus tells us: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV)
Today, let’s give thanks for Jesus who paid the costly price for our sins to be forgiven and for us to have eternal life.
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