Salmos 49

1 Al Vencedor: a los hijos de Coré: Salmo. Oíd esto, pueblos todos; escuchad, habitadores todos del mundo:

2 Así los hijos de los hombres como los hijos de los varones; el rico y el pobre juntamente.

3 Mi boca hablará sabiduría; y el pensamiento de mi corazón inteligencia.

4 Acomodaré a ejemplos mi oído; declararé con el arpa mi enigma.

5 ¿Por qué he de temer en los días de adversidad, cuando la iniquidad de mis calcañares me cercará?

6 Los que confían en sus haciendas, y en la muchedumbre de sus riquezas se jactan,

7 ninguno de ellos podrá en manera alguna redimir al hermano, ni dar a Dios su rescate.

8 (Porque la redención de su vida es de gran precio, y no lo pueden hacer)

9 que viva adelante para siempre, y nunca vea la sepultura.

10 Pues se ve que mueren todos los sabios; el loco y el ignorante perecen, y dejan a otros sus riquezas.

11 En su interior piensan que sus casas son eternas, y sus habitaciones para generación y generación; llamaron sus tierras de sus nombres.

12 Mas el hombre no permanecerá en honra; es semejante a las bestias que son cortadas.

13 Este es su camino, su locura; y sus descendientes corren por el dicho de ellos. (Selah.)

14 Como ovejas son puestos en la sepultura; la muerte los pastorea; y los rectos se enseñorearán de ellos por la mañana; y se consumirá su bien parecer en la sepultura de su morada.

15 Ciertamente Dios redimirá mi vida del poder desde la sepultura, cuando me tomará. (Selah.)

16 No temas cuando se enriquece alguno, cuando aumenta la gloria de su casa;

17 porque en su muerte no llevará nada, ni descenderá tras él su gloria.

18 Porque mientras viviere, será su vida bendita; y tú serás loado cuando fueres prospero.

19 Entrará a la generación de sus padres; no verán luz para siempre.

20 El hombre en honra que no entiende, semejante es a las bestias que son cortadas.

Salmos 49 Commentary

Chapter 49

A call for attention. (1-5) Folly of worldlings. (6-14) Against fear of death. (15-20)

Verses 1-5 We 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 people from undue delight in it. The psalmist begins with applying it to himself, and that is the right method in which to treat of Divine things. Before he sets down the folly of carnal security, he lays down, from his own experience, the benefit and comfort of a holy, gracious security, which they enjoy who trust in God, and not in their worldly wealth. In the day of judgment, the iniquity of our heels, or of our steps, our past sins, will compass us. In those days, worldly, wicked people will be afraid; but wherefore should a man fear death who has God with him?

Verses 6-14 Here is a description of the spirit and way of worldly people. A man may have wealth, and may have his heart enlarged in love, thankfulness, and obedience, and may do good with it. Therefore it is not men's having riches that proves them to be worldly, but their setting their hearts upon them as the best things. Worldly men have only some floating thoughts of the things of God, while their fixed thoughts, their inward thoughts, are about the world; that lies nearest the heart. But with all their wealth they cannot save the life of the dearest friend they have. This looks further, to the eternal redemption to be wrought out by the Messiah. The redemption of the soul shall cost very dear; but, being once wrought, it shall never need to be repeated. And he, the Redeemer, shall rise again before he sees corruption, and then shall live for evermore, Re. 1:18 . This likewise shows the folly of worldly people, who sell their souls for that which will never buy them. With all their wealth they cannot secure themselves from the stroke of death. Yet one generation after another applaud their maxims; and the character of a fool, as drawn by heavenly Wisdom itself, Lu. 12:16-21 , continues to be followed even among professed Christians. Death will ask the proud sinner, Where is thy wealth, thy pomp? And in the morning of the resurrection, when all that sleep in the dust shall awake, the upright shall be advanced to the highest honour, when the wicked shall be filled with everlasting shame and contempt, ( Daniel 12:2 ) . Let us now judge of things as they will appear in that day. The beauty of holiness is that alone which the grave cannot touch, or damage.

Verses 15-20 Believers should not fear death. The distinction of men's outward conditions, how great soever in life, makes none at death; but the difference of men's spiritual states, though in this life it may seem of small account, yet at and after death is very great. The soul is often put for the life. The God of life, who was its Creator at first, can and will be its Redeemer at last. It includes the salvation of the soul from eternal ruin. Believers will be under strong temptation to envy the prosperity of sinners. Men will praise thee, and cry thee up, as having done well for thyself in raising an estate and family. But what will it avail to be approved of men, if God condemn us? Those that are rich in the graces and comforts of the Spirit, have something of which death cannot strip them, nay, which death will improve; but as for worldly possessions, as we brought nothing into the world, so it is certain that we shall carry nothing out; we must leave all to others. The sum of the whole matter is, that it can profit a man nothing to gain the whole world, to become possessed of all its wealth and all its power, if he lose his own soul, and is cast away for want of that holy and heavenly wisdom which distinguishes man from the brutes, in his life and at his death. And are there men who can prefer the lot of the rich sinner to that of poor Lazarus, in life and death, and to eternity? Assuredly there are. What need then we have of the teaching of the Holy Ghost; when, with all our boasted powers, we are prone to such folly in the most important of all concerns!

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Aben Ezra says this psalm is a very excellent one, since in it is explained the Light of the world to come, and of the rational and immortal soul; and Kimchi is of opinion that it respects both this world and that which is to come: and indeed it treats of the vanity of trusting in riches: of the insufficiency of them for the redemption of the soul; of the short continuance of worldly honour and substance; of the certainty of death, and of the resurrection of the dead. And the design of it is to expose the folly of trusting in uncertain riches, and to comfort the people of God under the want of them.