Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Psalm 49 Devotional

A Ransom No Money Can Pay

“But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah”Psalm 49:15 (BSB)

Psalm 49 calls everyone to listen, rich and poor alike, because it addresses something all share: death (49:1-2). The psalmist asks why he should fear when wealthy, boastful people surround him (49:5-6). Then he gives his answer. No one can redeem another person's life or pay God a ransom for it. The price of a life is too costly, and no payment will ever be enough to keep someone from the grave (49:7-9).

The turn comes in a single verse: God will redeem the psalmist's life from the grave and take him to himself (49:15). What money could never buy, God gives. Jesus said he came to lay down his life to ransom many (Mark 10:45). The price no one could pay, he paid. So the psalm ends with fresh freedom. There is no need to fear when someone grows rich, because at death he will carry nothing away (49:16-17). Wealth cannot buy life, but those whom God redeems are free from fearing those who have it.

To think about: Where do you feel the pull of wealth or envy, and how does God's costly redemption set you free from it?

About Psalm 49: Wealth Cannot Buy Life

Attributed to the sons of Korah, this psalm calls all people, wealthy and needy, to hear wisdom about riches and death. No one can pay God the price of another's life, but the psalmist trusts God to rescue him from the grave, so the prosperous need not be feared, since they take nothing along when they die.

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