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The Scriptorium

The Folly of Unbelief

We have a message for the lost. Psalm 49

Antidote to Vanity and Death (7)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 49.10-12
For he sees wise men die;
Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,
Their dwelling places to all generations;
They call their lands after their own names.
Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain;
He is like the beasts that perish.

Sing Psalm 49.10-12, 15
(Sagina: And Can It Be, That I Should Gain)
See how the wise and senseless die, and leave to others all their gold.
Vainly forever they longed and hoped to have their names and glories told.
Man in his pomp will not endure; like any beast his end is sure.
Refrain v. 15
My God redeems my soul from hell!
His grace and mercy let me tell!

Read Psalm 49
; meditate on Psalm 49.10-12

Preparation
1. Why is it folly to devote yourself to riches and reputation?

2. What is the end of all who hope to redeem themselves?

Meditation
The message of the sons of Korah to the rich and powerful Gentile agents gawking about in Jerusalem is that they were living as fools if they thought that riches or reputation were the most people were meant to know in life.

Rich and famous people die all the time. Those who succeed them spend up their riches, and those who remember them will die soon enough, and all their memories with them. No amount of honor, wealth, or praise can prevent the inevitable: Live like a beast, die like one.

People are meant for more, and the sons of Korah understood this. Only God can redeem people from their folly and sin (v. 15). Those He redeems He promises to receive unto Himself, which is a bigger deal by far than being received as a foreign emissary in the court of Solomon (himself by this time lapsing into folly).

It took courage to compose this hymn. Whether or not the Gentiles who came to Jerusalem ever heard it, the rich and famous fools in Solomon’s court certainly did, even the king himself. It takes courage to tell the truth to people who don’t seem inclined to receive it. But this is what we have been sent to do as witnesses for Jesus (Acts 1.8). Understand this (v. 20) and let the light of Jesus shine through you day by day (v. 19).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Money cannot buy salvation. It cannot redeem our families or friends; nor is there anything with which we can ransom their souls. We cannot afford it. No amount of wealth or power can purchase eternal life. Only Jesus could ransom and redeem mankind. But it was costly (Ps. 49.7-9).

What we can do is pray. And witness, with our lives, love, and words.

“Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.
If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it?
He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?”
(Prov. 24.11, 12)

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4.2).

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (I Pet. 3.15-17).

And with all these words, we must add in love, because without it we are an offense, like sounding brass and clanging cymbals. Our witness must be patient and kind; not envious or egotistical, not rude or haughty, or selfish (1 Cor. 13). And we must not be afraid of those we witness to, even if they are rich and powerful (Ps. 49.5, 6).

What we desire most of all is that those we share Christ with will leave their folly of unbelief and know with certainty that God will redeem their souls from the power of the grave and receive them with love and forgiveness. Redemption that only Jesus can afford to give them.

But sometimes He allows us to wrap and deliver the gift!

Reflection
1. What is our message to the people in our Personal Mission Fields? How would you summarize it?

2. What can we do to avoid falling into the snare of thinking that riches and reputation are the way to happiness?

3. What does it mean to say that you have been redeemed and will be received by Jesus? Why is this Good News?

whatever dignity or excellence shines forth in the Church, we are not to consider it otherwise than as the means of presenting God to our view, that we may magnify and praise him in his gifts. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on the Psalm 48.14

Closing Prayer: Psalm 49.1-9

Pray for lost people everywhere, that they would wake up to the folly of not believing in God, face up to their need for redemption, and receive the Good News of Jesus.

Sing Psalm 49.7-9, 15
(Sagina: And Can It Be, That I Should Gain)
No man his brother can redeem, or give a ransom for his soul.
Let him leave off the vain attempt to gather redemption’s priceless toll.
Vainly he longs for eternal day, that he may not endure decay.
Refrain v. 15
My God redeems my soul from hell!
His grace and mercy let me tell!

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to a summary of last week’s study by going to our website, www.ailbe.org, and clicking the Scriptorium tab for Sunday.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
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