Psalm 49:1-12 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 49:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
Verse 2both low and high, rich and poor together.
Verse 3My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
Verse 4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
Verse 5Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
Verse 6those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Verse 7Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
Verse 8For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice
Verse 9that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
Verse 10When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.
Verse 11Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
Verse 12Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
Devotion
We live in a time when the gap between the “haves” and the “have nots” is getting larger and larger. Rich and poor are not just separated by income differences, but also by opportunities for education, safe housing, quality health care and access to power.
But the message from the writer of this Psalm is not just for the poor. “Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together.” God’s message for all people is that life is not found in the material things of this world for their value is fleeting. True life - true living - happens as we abide, not in pomp or the desire for it, but in connection with God in Jesus Christ.
Prayer
Lord of Life - you are all wisdom to us. Help us to hear your word; tear us from the things that hold our hearts captive and help us to abide in you. Amen.