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Psalms 49-50

Thursday Evening Bible Study

March 31, 2016

Introduction

Do people see Jesus? Is the gospel preached? Does it address the person who is: Empty, lonely, guilty, or afraid to die?  Does it speak to the broken hearted? Does it build up the church? Milk – Meat – Manna Preach for a decision Is the church loved? Target 3300 words   Video = 75 wpm

The English word psalm comes from a Greek word that means “a poem sung to musical accompaniment”, or in particular, “stringed instruments”.

The Hebrew name is tehillim, which means “praises.”

The book of Psalms is the hymnbook of God’s people.

It’s also the “Him” book as well. It’s all about Jesus.

The writer of Hebrews quotes from Psalm 40:8 when he writes,

(Hebrews 10:7 NKJV) Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ”
The author was talking about Jesus.
We’re going to see a lot of Jesus in the Psalms.

Soul Music

Music touches the soul. It’s “soulish” in nature. It touches the emotions.

We’re going to find every kind of emotion possible expressed in the Psalms.

For every sigh there is a Psalm.

For most of us, this is what makes the Psalms so wonderful. We can identify. We can relate.
If we were honest, even darkest most depressing Psalms describe the very things we go through day by day.

It is my prayer that as we continue on this journey through the Psalms, we won’t just look at these songs academically, with our mind, but that we may also grow as worshippers.

Psalm 49 The Danger of Wealth

: To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Author and situation is unknown about this psalm.

How come wicked people sometimes prosper and get away with their evil?

We’ve seen this several times in the Scripture.

It’s a problem for many, especially when you have been trying to live a righteous life and things are hard, while the wicked person seems to be getting away with all sort of evil and prospering at the same time.

In the end, the wicked person is no better than the beasts of the field.

The hope of the righteous is better than the false security of the wicked.

:1 Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

:2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

:3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

:4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.

:4 dark sayingchiydah – riddle, difficult question, parable, perplexing saying or question

This is the word that Samson used when he made up a “riddle” and asked the Philistines to solve it at his wedding.

(Judges 14:12 NKJV) Then Samson said to them, “Let me pose a riddle to you. If you can correctly solve and explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.

This is the word used to describe the “hard questions” that the Queen of Sheba posed to Solomon.

(1 Kings 10:1 NKJV) Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.

The next verse is the “riddle” – You need to read this next verse as if the Psalmist is changing voices, and for the next verse he is speaking what a “Wicked” person might be speaking:

:5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

:5 Why should I fear

fearyare’ – to fear, revere, be afraid

The wicked person is wondering why he should fear God when he has problems, when he is so wealthy?

They wonder what they have to worry about bad things happening because they have money.

This kind of pride and arrogance is the thing that the Psalmist is struggling with.

:6 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,

:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—

:7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother

You can’t buy God off with your money

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that after you die, you go to a place called “purgatory” somewhere between heaven and hell.  From there you might go further down into hell, or you might be able to get into heaven if you have some help from the living.

The help that living people can give is by obtaining “indulgences”, where those alive on earth can perform certain acts and earn brownie points to get people out of purgatory.  In the Middle Ages the church used to sell indulgences for a price.
So… the story goes that a long time ago, a husband died, and the priest came over to talk to the wife.
The priest said to the wife, “I’ve got good news, for only a gold coin we can pray and get your husband’s head out of purgatory.”  So the wife gave the priest a gold coin.
The next week the priest came by and said, “Good news!  Your husband’s head is now out of purgatory, and for one more gold coin we can pray and get your husband out of purgatory from the waist up!”  So the wife gave the priest another gold coin.
The next week the priest came by and said, “My dear, we have good news, your husband is out of purgatory from the waist up, and for only one more gold coin, we can pray and get your husband’s left leg out of purgatory!”  So the wife gave the priest a gold coin.
The next week the priest came by and said, “My dear, we have good news, and your husband’s left leg is now out of purgatory, and for just one more gold coin we can pray and get your husband’s right leg out of purgatory and he will finally be free to go to heaven!”  But this time the wife said, “I don’t think I’ll pay you this time.  My husband had a wooden right leg, and I think we can leave that in purgatory.”

The point that the Psalmist is making is that you cannot redeem your brother for any price.

And of course the entire idea of purgatory is contrary to the teaching of Scripture.  When a believer dies, they go immediately into heaven.  The price had been paid.

:8 For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever—

:9 That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit.

:8 the redemption of their souls is costly

Lesson

Redemption

The price to redeem your soul is much greater than money can buy.
Someone has to die.
The Bible says,

(Ezekiel 18:4b NKJV) …The soul who sins shall die.

Paul wrote,

(Romans 6:23 NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If someone wants to redeem you, they have to pay your price, death.
Death can be paid through the shedding of blood.
(Leviticus 17:11 NKJV) For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
That’s why Jesus came, to redeem us from our sins with the most valuable element in the universe:
(1 Peter 1:18–19 NKJV) —18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
Paul wrote,
(Galatians 3:13 NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

:10 For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others.

:10 leave their wealth to others

Lesson

It all stays behind

When you die, you leave it all behind.
The saying goes, “You can’t take it with you”.
Though there are some who try.
Have you ever heard of people being buried in their Cadillacs?  Some don’t even have a Cadillac.
Video:  Elderly Man Buried in 1973 Pontiac
Well, Lonnie didn’t actually take it with him.  He is either in heaven or hell, but his stuff is now buried in a hole.
Illustration
May 25, 1994, the ashes of 71-year-old George Swanson are buried (according to Swanson’s request) in the driver’s seat of his 1984 white Corvette in Hempfield County, Pennsylvania.
Swanson, a beer distributor and former U.S. Army sergeant during World War II, died the previous March 31 at the age of 71. He had reportedly been planning his automobile burial for some time, buying 12 burial plots at Brush Creek Cemetery, located 25 miles east of Pittsburgh, in order to ensure that his beloved Corvette would fit in his grave with him. After his death, however, the cemetery balked, amid concerns of vandalism and worries that other clients would be offended by the outlandish nature of the burial. They finally relented after weeks of negotiations, but insisted that the burial be private, and that the car be drained of fluids to protect the environment. “George wanted to go out in style, and, indeed, now he will,” commented Swanson’s lawyer in a report from The Associated Press. “We agree that this is rather elaborate, but really it’s no different than being buried in a diamond-studded or gold coffin.”
According to the AP, Swanson’s widow, Caroline, transported her husband’s ashes to the cemetery on the seat of her own white 1993 Corvette. The ashes were then placed on the driver’s seat of his 10-year-old car, which had only 27,000 miles on the odometer. Inside the car, mourners also placed a lap quilt made by a group of women from Swanson’s church, a love note from his wife and an Engelbert Humperdinck tape in the cassette deck, with the song “Release Me” cued up and ready to play. The license plate read “HI-PAL,” which was Swanson’s go-to greeting when he didn’t remember a name. As 50 mourners looked on, a crane lowered the Corvette into a 7-by-7-by-16-foot hole.   
“George always said he lived a fabulous life, and he went out in a fabulous style,” Caroline Swanson said later. “You have a lot of people saying they want to take it with them. He took it with him.”

:11 Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.

:11 They call their lands after their own names

Some people have this notion that their key to living on is to make some sort of monument, something with their name on it.

Rockefeller Center – a few years ago a poll showed that only 4% of New Yorkers even knew who the Rockefellers were or what they did (they made their money in oil).

I think there is currently a fellow running for president who likes putting his name on everything he owns.

Whether you think Mr. Trump ought to be president, or whether you think he’s the antichrist himself, you do need to be careful about what you think his wealth indicates.
It might indicate that he’s a shrewd businessman, but it says nothing about whether God is on his side.

:12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish.

:12 man, though in honor, does not remain

honory@qar – price, value, preciousness, honor, splendor, pomp.

“honor” is a description of this man’s wealth.

A wealthy man may achieve an amount of honor, but he will still die one day.

:13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah

:13 foolish … their posterity

It’s only foolish people who think that they can do something with their money to insure they will live forever.

The “posterity”, those who want the wealthy to like them, so they kiss up to them.

:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

:14 The upright shall have dominion

The wealthy person will die and be laid in a grave just like an animal.

Those who walk with God are the ones who will rule in eternity, having “dominion” over even the wealthy.

:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah

:15 God will redeem my soul

The Psalmist is counting on God to be the one to redeem his soul.

Even though the Psalmist is writing before Jesus would die for our sins, he is still declaring his faith that God will take care of it.

It’s similar to what Abraham said to his son Isaac when he was going to attempt to obey God and sacrifice him:
(Genesis 22:8 NKJV) And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”

I don’t think Abraham was just making something up to keep his son quiet.  He believed that in the end God would come through.

Salvation has always been by faith, even for the Old Testament saints.
The writer of Hebrews says,

(Hebrews 11:13 NKJV) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

The Old Testament saints didn’t know the name of Jesus, but they too trusted that God would provide the lamb, counting on God to redeem them.

:16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;

:16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich

Why would someone be afraid of a wealthy person?

Because they might become twisted with their sense of power and abuse those less fortunate.

It might even carry the idea of being “impressed” by a wealthy person.

(Psalm 49:16 The Message) So don’t be impressed with those who get rich and pile up fame and fortune.

:17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.

:18 Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

:19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light.

:20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.

:20 in honor, yet does not understand

honory@qar – price, value, preciousness, honor, splendor, pomp

Remember that the word “honor” is speaking of the wealthy man, but here especially the one who chooses not to “understand” about God.

That person will be like a beast that will perish.

Lesson

Know God

A person with wealth will have a difficult time trusting in God instead of their money.
Jesus confronted a rich young man about his wealth and challenged him to give it all up because it was the thing keeping him from God, but the young man had trouble with this.
Jesus said,

(Matthew 19:23-24 NKJV) —23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

A wealthy person doesn’t have to die and go to hell.  They don’t even have to give up all their money to be saved.  They can learn to trust the Lord.
(1 Timothy 6:17–19 NKJV) —17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Lesson

Contentment

Some of us get caught in the trap of wishing we had just a bit more money …
J.D. Rockefeller was asked how much money would make a man happy.  He replied, “Just a little more”.
Paul wrote,
(Philippians 4:12–13 NASB95) —12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Learning the secret of being content in our circumstances.

Psalm 50 Before the Judge

: A Psalm of Asaph.

:1 The Mighty One, God the Lord, Has spoken and called the earth From the rising of the sun to its going down.

:1 Has spoken and called the earth

It’s as if God calls to all mankind.  Court is in session.

(Psalm 50:1 NLT) The Lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity from where the sun rises to where it sets.

:2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.

Zion is Jerusalem

:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; A fire shall devour before Him, And it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.

:3 Our God shall come

He is coming to judge the world.

(Psalm 96:13 NKJV) For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.
(Psalm 98:9 NKJV) For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.

:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, And to the earth, that He may judge His people:

:4 call to the heavens from above

God is calling to the angels to witness this.

:4 And to the earth

Everyone summoned to court.

:5 “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

:5 Gather My saints together to Me

This is talking about the Israelites because they are the ones who perform the sacrifices from the Law of Moses.

:6 Let the heavens declare His righteousness, For God Himself is Judge. Selah

:6 God Himself is Judge

Lesson

Here comes the Judge

Video:  Here Come Da Judge
Whether or not you believe it, there is a day when we will all stand before the great Judge.
The only way to make it through the judgment is to trust in Jesus.
Does God have the ability to say tough things to you?
Can God point out your faults and you not reject His accusation?

:7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God!

:7 I will testify against you

testify ‘uwd – (Hiphil) to testify, bear witness; to cause to testify, take or call as witness, invoke; to protest, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort or enjoin solemnly, admonish, charge

God is not only the judge, but He is also the star witness.

:8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me.

:8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices

rebukeyakach – (Hiphil) to decide, judge; to adjudge, appoint; to show to be right, prove; to convince, convict; to reprove, chide; to correct, rebuke

God is not going to complain that they haven’t been bringing sacrifices to Him.

They bring lots of sacrifices to God.

:9 I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds.

:10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.

:10 the cattle on a thousand hills

I’ve heard folks quote this and talk about God’s wealth, and how God can meet our needs because He is so well off.

Though that’s true, keep in mind the context.

Lesson

God doesn’t need your sacrifice

God is rebuking the people for their sacrifices because they think they are doing God a favor.
There’s a sense in which God does not want our sacrifice when we think we are trying to make up for our sins.
Some people think that when they screw things up over and over again, they just need to put an extra $20 in the offering and everything will be okay.

God would much rather that you learn not to screw things up.

Some churches and ministries give you the idea that God is broke and that if you don’t give, and give big, then God’s work is going to cease.
I believe it’s important that you support the ministries that God uses in your life.
And though a ministry may have financial needs, God is never needy.

:11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine.

:12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.

:13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?

:12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you

Again, God is not needy.  God is not hungry.

God isn’t even sitting up in heaven hoping His people would sin so they would turn around and offer up an animal and God would get to have another sacrifice.

The purpose for sacrifice is not to feed God, it’s to help us realize the horrible price that our sin comes with.

As Christians, not knowing anything about actual sacrifice, we really don’t see the cost of our sin.
For the Jew living before or at the time of Christ, they would see the bloody mess that sin brought as a result.
But even for those folks, they can try to rationalize that it’s all for God, and forget that it’s because of their own sin and wickedness.
We sing a line that says,
“I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon the cross”

I wonder sometimes if we really realize just what price our sin has cost Jesus.

:14 Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High.

:14 Offer to God thanksgiving

Lesson

Thankfulness

Don’t you often wish that people would notice some of the things you do and learn to say “thanks”?
Video:  Thank You Soldiers – Budweiser Commercial
God feels the same way.
He even gave the Israelites a way to express their “thanks” through a sacrificial offering.
That’s the kind of sacrifice that God appreciates.
These too would involve the sacrifice of an animal, as well as unleavened bread (Lev. 7)

(Leviticus 7:12 NKJV) If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil.

(Leviticus 7:11–18 NKJV) —11 ‘This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the Lord: 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers anointed with oil, or cakes of blended flour mixed with oil. 13 Besides the cakes, as his offering he shall offer leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offering. 14 And from it he shall offer one cake from each offering as a heave offering to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering. 15 ‘The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice; but on the next day the remainder of it also may be eaten; 17 the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day must be burned with fire. 18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, nor shall it be imputed to him; it shall be an abomination to him who offers it, and the person who eats of it shall bear guilt.

These sacrifices weren’t because you had sinned, these were done out of thankfulness to God.

This is also called the “peace offering”, which was like having dinner with God.

God loves it when we are thankful, but too often we forget the value of saying “thanks”.

(Luke 17:12–19 NKJV) —12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

The writer of Hebrews indicated that the praise from our lips can also be a sacrifice to God.
(Hebrews 13:15 NKJV) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
Video:  Thanksgiving Chair

:14 pay your vows

Lesson

Keep your promises

Sometimes sacrifices were performed when a vow or promise was kept.
(Leviticus 7:16 NKJV) But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice; but on the next day the remainder of it also may be eaten;
It might go something like this: “God if you get me out of this one, I will serve you with my life…”
This too might involve the sacrifice of an animal, but the idea was that God kept His promise, and you keep yours.
God wants us to be careful about what we promise to God, to be sure that what we promise we intend to keep.
James wrote,

(James 5:12 NKJV) But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

God’s biggest concern is that we learn to keep our promises, especially those we make to Him.
David wrote,
(Psalm 22:25 NKJV) My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.

:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble

God isn’t saying that He never wants us asking Him for help.

He wants us to come to Him and ask for help.

Lesson

Love, not ritual.

God wants our relationship with Him based on our trust in Him, not because we’ve paid the required toll at the booth, or given the sacrifice that will twist God’s arm and make Him help us.
The people had fallen into counting on rituals instead of counting on Him.
Isaiah wrote,
(Isaiah 29:13 NKJV) Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

:16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth,

:17 Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?

:16 But to the wicked God says:

God now clearly addresses the people with the problems, the hypocrites.

These are the people who are continuing to cling to their wickedness, and feel like they’re okay because they’ve given their sacrifices.

He wishes they would stop talking about God as if they know Him.

God now lists some of the things these hypocrites have been guilty of…

:18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have been a partaker with adulterers.

:19 You give your mouth to evil, And your tongue frames deceit.

:20 You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son.

:21 These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.

:22 “Now consider this, you who forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, And there be none to deliver:

:23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.”

God is looking for a couple of things from us.

He wants us to learn to say “thanks”, to give Him praise.

He also wants us to learn to obey Him, to do the right thing.

:21 These things you have done, and I kept silent

Lesson

Silence isn’t approval

Just because God has allowed you to get away with sin doesn’t mean that He approves of your sin or that He doesn’t care.
What God is showing you is patience.
(2 Peter 3:9 NLT) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
God desires that His patience and goodness would encourage you to turn from your sin.
(Romans 2:4 NLT) Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
If you’ve been rebelling against God, today is the day to return to Him.