Psalm 49:7-8, 13-14a, 15; antiphon, Psalm 49:1-2 God is the owner of the earth and all that is
therein. In giving to God we merely return that which is His own. The vanity of
life is explained in this psalm. Also this psalm teaches that death comes to
all. This psalm is similar to Psalm 39. Psalm 49 is a meditation on life and
death. A typical piece of wisdom on life’s inequalities. At the end of the line
death waits for the materialist not even he can buy himself off. The “moral” is
similar to that of Jesus’ parable of the rich man found in Sunday’s gospel.
The theme for this coming week is “possessed by
possessions”. In the Gospel lesson (Luke 12:13-21) Jesus refuses to champion the cause of one who wants
his inheritance and goes on to teach by a parable that in the pursuit of wealth
one can lose one’s soul. In the Old Testament lesson, (Ecclesiastes
1:2, 12-14, 2:18-26) the theme of vanity is
shown when a man works hard to accumulate wealth only to leave it to one who
did not work for it. In the Epistle lesson (Colossians 3:1-11) Paul gives us a contrast between heavenly virtues and
earthly vices which are to be shunned.
Psalm 49 – What money can’t buy
As are many of the songs in Book Two of the Psalter,
this psalm is titled To the Chief
Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. These sons of Korah were Levites,
from the family of Kohath. By David’s time it seems they served in the musical
aspect of the temple worship (2 Chronicles 20:19).
“The teaching of
the song is simple, and sublime, present, and perpetual.” (G. Campbell
Morgan) “This psalm touches the
high-water mark of Old Testament faith in a future life.” (Alexander
Maclaren) [2]
Collect for Psalm 49: Lord Jesus, you
condemned the rich because they have already received their regard, and you
proclaimed the poor blessed because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Teach us
to seek imperishable goods and to have confidence in your blood, poured out as
the price of our redemption, and to you be the glory now and forever, Amen [3]
[1] The Crucifixion Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut copyright © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
[3] Collect for Psalm 49, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[4] ibid
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