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Commentary on Psalms 49 verses 15–20
Good reason is here given to good people,
I. Why they should not be afraid of death. There is no cause for that fear if they have such a comfortable prospect as David here has of a happy state on the other side death, Psa 49:15. He had shown (Psa 49:14) how miserable the dead are that die in their sins, where he shows how blessed the dead are that die in the Lord. The distinction of men's outward condition, how great a difference soever it makes in life, makes none at death; rich and poor meet in the grave. But the distinction of men's spiritual state, though, in this life, it makes a small difference, where all things come alike to all, yet, at and after death, it makes a very great one. Now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. The righteous has hope in his death, so has David here hope in God concerning his soul. Note, The believing hopes of the soul's redemption from the grave, and reception to glory, are the great support and joy of the children of God in a dying hour. They hope,
I. That God will redeem their souls from the power of the grave, which includes, (1.) The preserving of the soul from going to the grave with the body. The grave has a power over the body, by virtue of the sentence (Gen 3:19), and it is cruel enough in executing that power (Sol 8:6); but is has no such power over the soul. It has power to silence, and imprison, and consume the body; but the soul then moves, and acts, and converses, more freely than ever (Rev 6:9, Rev 6:10); it is immaterial and immortal. When death breaks the dark lantern, yet it does not extinguish the candle that was pent up in it. (2.) The reuniting of the soul and body at the resurrection. The soul is often put for the life; that indeed falls under the power of the grave for a time, but is hall, at length, be redeemed from it, when mortality shall be swallowed up of life. The God of life, that was its Creator at first, can and will be its Redeemer at last. (3.) The salvation of the soul from eternal ruin: "God shall redeem my soul from the sheol of hell (Psa 49:15), the wrath to come, that pit of destruction into which the wicked shall be cast," Psa 49:14. It is a great comfort to dying saints that they shall not be hurt of the second death (Rev 2:11), and therefore the first death has no sting and the grave no victory.
2.That he will receive them to himself. He redeems their souls, that he may receive them. Psa 31:5, Into thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou has redeemed it. He will receive them into his favour, will admit them into his kingdom, into the mansions that he prepared for them (Joh 14:2, Joh 14:3), those everlasting habitations, Luk 16:9.
II. Why they should not be afraid of the prosperity and power of wicked people in this world, which, as it is their pride and joy, has often been the envy, and grief, and terror of the righteous, which yet, all things considered, there is no reason for.
1.He supposes the temptation very strong to envy the prosperity of sinners, and to be afraid that they will carry all before them with a high hand, that with their wealth and interest they will run down religion and religious people, and that they will be found the truly happy people; for he supposes, (1.) That they are made rich, and so are enabled to give law to all about them and have every thing at command. Pecuniae obediunt omnes et omnia - Every person and every thing obey the commanding influence of money. (2.) That the glory of their house, from very small beginnings, is increased greatly, which naturally makes men haughty, insolent, and imperious, Psa 5:1-12 :16. Thus they seem to be the favourites of heaven, and therefore formidable. (3.) That they are very easy and secure in themselves and in their own minds (Psa 49:18): In his life-time he blessed his soul; that is, he thought himself a very happy man, such a one as he would be, and a very good man, such a one as he should be, because he prospered in the world. He blessed his soul, as that rich fool who said to his soul, "Soul, take thy ease, and be not disturbed either with cares and fears about the world or with the rebukes and admonitions of conscience. All is well, and will be well for ever." Note, [1.] It is of great consequence to consider what that is in which we bless our souls, upon the score of which we think well of ourselves. Believers bless themselves in the God of truth (Isa 65:16) and think themselves happy if he be theirs; carnal people bless themselves in the wealth of the world, and think themselves happy if they have abundance of that. [2.] There are many whose precious souls lie under God's curse, and yet they do themselves bless them; they applaud that in themselves which God condemns, and speak peace to themselves when God denounces war against them. Yet this is not all. (4.) They are in good reputation among their neighbours: "Men will praise thee, and cry thee up, as having done well for thyself in raising such an estate and family." This is the sentiment of all the children of this world, that those do best for themselves that do most for their bodies, by heaping up riches, though, at the same time, nothing is done for the soul, nothing for eternity; and accordingly they bless the covetous, whom the Lord abhors, Psa 10:3. If men were to be our judges, it were our wisdom thus to recommend ourselves to their good opinion: but what will it avail us to be approved of men if God condemn us? Dr. Hammond understands this of the good man here spoken to, for it is the second person, not of the wicked man spoken of: "He, in his life-time, blessed his soul, but thou shalt be praised for doing well unto thyself. The worldling magnified himself; but thou that dost not, like him, speak well of thyself, but do well for thyself, in securing thy eternal welfare, thou shalt be praised, if not of men, yet of God, which will be thy everlasting honour."
2.He suggests that which is sufficient to take off the strength of the temptation, by directing us to look forward to the end of prosperous sinners (Psa 73:17): "Think what they will be in the other world, and you will see no cause to envy them what they are and have in this world."
(1.)In the other world they will be never the better for all the wealth and prosperity they are now so fond of. It is a miserable portion, which will not last so long as they must (Psa 49:17): When he dies it is taken for granted that he goes into another world himself, but he shall carry nothing away with him of all that which he has been so long heaping up. The greatest and wealthiest cannot therefore be the happiest, because they are never the better for their living in this world; as they came naked into it, they shall go naked out of it. But those have something to show in the other world for their living in this world who can say, through grace, that though they came corrupt, and sinful, and spiritually naked, into it, they go renewed, and sanctified, and well clothed with the righteousness of Christ, out of it. Those that are rich in the graces and comforts of the Spirit have something which, when they die, they shall carry away with them, something which death cannot strip them of, nay, which death will be the improvement of; but, as for worldly possessions, as we brought nothing into the world (what we have we had from others), so it is certain that we shall carry nothing out, but leave it to others, Ti1 6:7. They shall descend, but their glory, that which they called and counted their glory, and gloried in, shall not descend after them to lessen the disgrace of death and the grave, to bring them off in the judgment, or abate the torments of hell. Grace is glory that will ascend with us, but no earthly glory will descend after us.
(2.)In the other world they will be infinitely the worse for all their abuses of the wealth and prosperity they enjoyed in this world (Psa 49:19): The soul shall go to the generation of his fathers, his worldly wicked fathers, whose sayings he approved and whose steps he trod in, his fathers who would not hearken to the word of God, Zac 1:4. He shall go to be there where they are that shall never see light, shall never have the least glimpse of comfort and joy, being condemned to utter darkness. Be not afraid then of the pomp and power of wicked people; for the end of the man that is in honour, if he be not wise and good, will be miserable; if he understand not, he is to be pitied rather than envied. A fool, a wicked man, in honour, is really as despicable an animal as any under the sun; he is like the beasts that perish (Psa 49:20); nay, it is better to be a beast than to be a man that makes himself like a beast. Men in honour that understand, that know and do their duty and make conscience of it, are as gods, and children of the Most High. But men in honour that understand not, that are proud, and sensual, and oppressive, are as beasts, and they shall perish, like the beasts, ingloriously as to this world, though not, like the beasts, indemnified as to another world. Let prosperous sinners therefore be afraid for themselves, but let not even suffering saints be afraid of them.
But wherefore this? What he has written in the middle of the Psalm, the same also he has writ at the end: "Man, though he was in honour, understood not, was compared to the beasts without sense, and was made like to them" [Psalm 49:20]. But you, brethren, consider that you be men made after the image and likeness of God. The image [Genesis 1:26] of God is within, is not in the body; is not in these ears which you see, and eyes, and nostrils, and palate, and hands, and feet; but is made nevertheless: wherein is the intellect, wherein is the mind, wherein the power of discovering truth, wherein is faith, wherein is your hope, wherein your charity, there God has His Image: there at least ye perceive and see that these things pass away; for so he has said in another Psalm, "Though man walks in an image, yet he is disquieted in vain: he heaps up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them." Be not disquieted, for of whatsoever kind these things be, they are transitory, if you are men who being in honour understand. For if being men in honour ye understand not, you are compared to the beasts without sense, and are made like to them.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 49:20 serves as a profound summation of the psalm's central argument, asserting that human beings, despite possessing worldly honor, wealth, or social standing, are ultimately no different from perishing animals if they lack true spiritual understanding. This verse underscores the profound futility of earthly achievements and status when divorced from a discerning grasp of life's brevity, the certainty of death, and the eternal realities that transcend temporal existence. It challenges the conventional wisdom that equates material prosperity with ultimate blessing, redirecting focus towards the indispensable value of spiritual insight and God-given wisdom.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is Simile, explicitly stating that "Man... is like the beasts," which is designed to shock and humble, highlighting the tragic irony of human potential squandered. There is a strong use of Juxtaposition and Contrast, placing "man in honour" (implying human dignity and elevated status) directly against "beasts that perish" (implying instinctual, transient existence). This stark contrast underscores the profound spiritual deficiency of those who prioritize earthly glory over eternal truth. The verse also utilizes Repetition (as it echoes Psalms 49:12) to emphasize its central warning, driving home the critical importance of spiritual understanding. The language is Didactic and Admonitory, serving as a direct teaching and warning against a misplaced focus on worldly achievements and a failure to grasp eternal realities.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 49:20 resonates deeply with broader biblical theology concerning the nature of true wisdom, the transient nature of earthly life, and the ultimate destiny of humanity. It challenges the human tendency to find ultimate security and identity in temporal achievements, wealth, or social status. The verse asserts that without a spiritual understanding—a discernment of God's sovereignty, the brevity of life, and the reality of eternity—human existence, no matter how outwardly glorious, is ultimately reduced to a mere physical journey ending in oblivion, akin to that of animals. This underscores the crucial biblical emphasis on seeking heavenly treasures over earthly ones and recognizing that true life extends beyond the grave, found only in a relationship with the Creator.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 49:20 offers a timeless and sobering challenge to our modern sensibilities, which often equate success and worth with material possessions, social influence, or professional accolades. It compels us to critically examine where we place our ultimate value and trust. Are we investing our lives in that which is fleeting and perishable, or in that which has eternal significance? The verse calls us to prioritize spiritual wisdom—a deep understanding of God's truth, our own mortality, and the eternal destiny of our souls—above all else. True honor, then, is not found in what we accumulate or how others perceive us, but in how we align our lives with God's purposes, living with an eternal perspective that transcends the temporary allure of this world. It urges humility in success and discernment in our pursuits, reminding us that without a foundation of spiritual understanding, even the most esteemed human life can miss its ultimate purpose and end in spiritual emptiness. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that our true dignity and lasting legacy are rooted not in earthly achievements, but in our relationship with the Creator and our grasp of His eternal truths.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse mean that having honor or wealth is inherently bad?
Answer: No, the verse does not condemn honor or wealth in themselves. The crucial qualifier is "and understandeth not." The problem lies not in the possession of honor or riches, but in the lack of spiritual understanding that often accompanies it. If a person with honor or wealth fails to grasp the brevity of life, the certainty of death, and the ultimate futility of trusting in perishing things, then their life, despite its outward glitter, is ultimately no different in its spiritual end from that of a mere animal. The issue is misplaced trust and a failure to recognize eternal realities, not the material possessions themselves, which can be used for good when guided by divine wisdom, as seen in figures like Abraham or Job.
What is the "understanding" that is missing?
Answer: The "understanding" (Hebrew: bîyn) referred to in this verse is far more than mere intellectual knowledge or worldly shrewdness. It is a profound spiritual discernment, an insight into the true nature of reality as revealed by God. It encompasses the wisdom to recognize the transient nature of earthly life and possessions, the universality of death, and the ultimate sovereignty of God. It is the ability to grasp one's true purpose and destiny beyond this physical existence, acknowledging that true security and lasting significance are found in a relationship with God, not in the fleeting accolades or material wealth of this world. This understanding leads to living with an eternal perspective, valuing what truly endures and making choices that reflect God's eternal purposes, as highlighted in passages like Proverbs 3:5-6.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 49:20 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "understanding" that humanity so desperately lacks, which prevents them from perishing like beasts, is fully embodied and revealed in Him. Christ is described as the very wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30), in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). Those who "understand" by believing in Him and following His teachings gain not merely extended life, but eternal life, contrasting sharply with the "perishing" fate of those who reject Him (John 3:16). Jesus consistently taught against accumulating earthly "honor" or treasures that "moth and rust destroy," instead urging His followers to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-21). He demonstrated that true honor comes not from worldly acclaim, but from humility and obedience to God, culminating in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, which secured eternal life for all who believe. In Christ, humanity finds the true understanding that elevates them beyond the transient existence of perishing beasts, offering a hope that triumphs over the grave and leads to everlasting glory, as He is the "resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).