PSALM 49:1-4

As we turn out attention this week to Psalm 49 I notice the Bible title is ‘To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah’. The chief musician tells us it was for public worship. The sons of Korah were the singers. This Psalm especially the 10 written to the sons of Korah, addresses their history. Their past generations were destroyed in the presence of Moses because of their arrogance and pride. This Psalm addresses three areas where arrogance and pride can slip in through a back door and do great damage. The three subjects we will muse on in this Psalm are Wisdom, Wealth, and the Way of Life.

            Let us look at Wisdom dealt with in verses 1-4 which says, “Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the mediation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.”

            In verses 1 and 2 we have an ‘Inclining Towards Wisdom’. The Psalm says, ‘Hear this,” The phrase has the idea of give an ear if you have one, listen if you can. Our Lord constantly says in almost all of His messages, ‘he that hath ears let him hear’. He did not speak to a people who had no ears. He speaks of the ears of the soul or heart and not the ears of the head or mind. One is controlled by the five senses and causes one to walk by sight. The other is controlled by the spirit and causes one to walk by faith. The bidding to incline the ear is given to all the world but then he gives a personal description of the people. He asks those born of great men or nobility to give ear and those from the other side of the tracks, the nobodies of this world, he also calls on them to listen. He speaks to the rich, those who have sufficient funds and need no outside help for their welfare. He also speaks to the poor who have nothing and must depend on all outside sources for just their daily need.

            In verse 3 we find ‘An Instruction About Wisdom’. The Psalmist says ‘I will speak of wisdom’. These are not thoughts that he dreamed up from his own feelings but a wisdom that comes from above. The word ‘wisdom’ means to be extremely wise in what one thinks, says, and does. James says that wisdom that we gain on our own is earthly, sensual, and devilish. The wisdom that comes from God above is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits without partiality and hypocrisy. This wisdom will produce the fruits of righteousness and peace. We find in verse 3 that the instruction of wisdom the Psalmist will give comes from the understanding he receives from the meditation of his heart. For God’s people the art of meditation is to enter into the realm where our thoughts, words, and actions become the same as those of the Lord. We think like Him. We talk like Him and we act like Him. Is not this the wisdom we need in this life? No wonder on several occasions we are told to meditate on the Word of God day and night.

.