(16, 17) After expressing his own hopes of escaping from death, or being rescued from corruption, the psalmist recurs to the question of Psalms 49:5, and completes the answer to it. He need not fear, however prosperous and wealthy his adversaries become, for they will die, and, dying, can take none of their possessions with them. read more
(18) Though, while he lived. . . .—This is abundantly illustrated by our Lord’s parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:19; comp. Deuteronomy 29:19).And men will.—Rather, and though men praise thee, &c. “Although prosperity produces self-gratulation, and procures the homage of the world as well, yet,” &c read more
(19) They shall never.—Better, who will never again look on the light, i.e., “never live again,” implying, in contrast, a hope of a resurrection for the upright. (See Note Psalms 49:14.) read more
Listening to God Psalms 49:4 In this Psalm the subject is the great and dark problem of Divine providence. The Psalmist tells us in his introduction that he will open the dark saying, the riddle on the harp. He pierces through the surface of things to declare the utter vanity of life without God. He tells us frankly that it is not by argument he arrives at this certitude but by inspiration. He has listened to the wisdom that is from above, and so has truth to declare. This is the attitude of a... read more
Psalms 49:1-20THIS psalm touches the high-water mark of Old Testament faith in a future life; and in that respect, as well as in its application of that faith to alleviate the mystery of present inequalities and non-correspondence of desert with condition, is closely related to the noble Psalms 73:1-28, with Which it has also several verbal identities. Both have the same problem before them-to construct a theodicy, or "to vindicate the ways of God to man"-and both solve it in the same fashion.... read more
Psalms 49:0 Retrospects and Meditations 1. Hear this, all ye peoples! (Psalms 49:1-4 ) 2. His message of retrospect and encouragement (Psalms 49:5-20 ) If such is the outcome and the goal of the purposes of God concerning His people, why should they fear in the days of evil, which precede the coming glory? The ungodly will pass away no matter how great their riches are, nor can they redeem themselves; their way is folly; like sheep they are laid in the grave and death feeds on them. But... read more
49:18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and {n} [men] will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.(n) The flatterers praise them who live in delight and pleasures. read more
49:19 {o} He shall go to the generation of his fathers; {p} they shall never see light.(o) And not pass the term appointed for life.(p) Both they and their fathers will live here but a while and at length die forever. read more
49:20 Man [that is] in honour, and {q} understandeth not, is like the beasts [that] perish.(q) He condemns man’s ingratitude, who having received excellent gifts from God, abuses them like a beast to his own condemnation. read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 49:1-20
There is little to fix the date of this Ps. The writer moralises, in the fashion of the book of Proverbs, on the vanity of wealth and honour apart from understanding. The rich man cannot deliver his friends or himself from death, and his prosperity need cause no dismay to those who are less fortunate in this world. The upright, among whom the Psalmist counts himself, will be received by God, and thus made superior to the power of death. Psalms 49:12, Psalms 49:20 form, by their similarity, a... read more