The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The issues of life.

Connected with Psalms 16:1-11; Psalms 17:1-15; the writer stands face to face with the great problem of the time—the prosperity of the wicked. The two chief causes which forced the conviction of a hereafter on the later Hebrews were a deep dissatisfaction at the prosperity of the wicked and the misfortunes of the righteous in the world; and the earnest longing of the soul for a more perfect communion with God than was possible in the present life; for they could not but believe that God's promises to the righteous would be made good. The subject of this psalm is that the issues of life show the difference between the lot of the righteous and the wicked.

I. THE LOT OF THE PROSPEROUS WICKED, WHO TRUST IN RICHES.

1. Their riches cannot purchase a ransom from death. (Verses 7-9.) Money may bribe men, but not God, nor death.

2. They cannot carry their riches or their glory with them when they die. (Verses 16-18.) Both are only transient possessions, which soon pass away.

3. There is no deliverance for them from the grave. (Verses 11-14.) The grave is their everlasting habitation, where all their beauty consumes away.

II. THE PRIVILEGE OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

1. To be fearless and undaunted in respect to the evil devices of the wicked. (Verses 5, 6, 16.)

2. They shall ultimately obtain dominion over the wicked. (Verse 14.) All the best and devoutest minds have never doubted that good shall at length triumph over evil.

3. Redemption from the grave, from Sheol, into a life with God. (Verse 15) "No more momentous struggle ever swayed the heart of man than that which first led him to suspect himself to be immortal."

III. THESE GREAT ISSUES ARE WORTHY THE STUDY OF ALL. (Verses 1-4.) High and low, rich and poor.—S.

Psalms 48

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 49:1-5We seldom meet with a more solemn introduction: there is no truth of greater importance. Let all hear this with application to ourselves. The poor are in danger from undue desire toward the wealth of the world, as rich…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:1-20EXPOSITION THIS is a didactic poem, and resembles in some respects Psalms 37:1-40, and Psalms 73:1-28. It deals with the same problem—the contrast between the lot of the righteous man, whom the wicked persecute continua…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:1Hear this, all ye people; rather, all ye peoples. Like Psalms 47:1-9; this psalm is addressed to the nations generally, who are all equally interested in it. The writer regards his mission as not confined to Israel, but…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:1-20A dark saying: wealth in bad hands. The author and the date of this psalm are alike unknown. There are, however, matters concerning it of much more importance, which we do know. One of these is that the writer was a bel…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:1-20A contrast: unseen wealth. To those whose character and outlook are depicted in the bulk of this psalm its writer did not belong. He looks on them; he writes of them; but he is not one with them. The emphatic and striki…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:1-20Be not afraid. I. THE PREACHER, (Psalms 49:3, Psalms 49:4.) He is marked by thoughtfulness. He lends his ear in many a secret place to learn wisdom. His inspiration is from above, and he does not speak of himself, but a…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:2Both high and low, rich and poor, together. The teaching of the psalm concerns all ranks alike. To the great and rich it will carry warning; to the poor and lowly, consolation.Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 49:3My mouth shall speak of wisdom (comp. Job 33:3, Job 33:4). It is not his own "wisdom" that the psalmist is about to utter, but a wisdom communicated to him from without, to which he has "to incline his ear" (Psalms 49:4…Joseph S. Exell and contributors