honor is not enough

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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honor is not enough

Psalm 49:16-20 (JDV)

Psalm 49:16 Do not be afraid when a person gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases
Psalm 49:17 because when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.
Psalm 49:18 Though he empowers himself during his lifetime – and you are praised when you do well for yourself –
Psalm 49:19 he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.
Psalm 49:20 Adam, with his honor but without understanding, is like the animals that perish.

honor is not enough

This psalm concludes with a warning to believers to not fear when those unbelievers around them start to gain praise and honor. The tendency is to ask yourself what you are doing wrong if the same honor and praise is not coming to you. The first two sections of the psalm declared that riches and wisdom are not enough, since everyone dies in the end. Now, the psalmist says the same thing about honor. It is fleeting, because we are mortal.

Just keep in mind that everyone in this life is temporary, and you will be able to rejoice when anyone achieves anything. But remember that the best wealth, wisdom, praise and honor is yet to come. Our status in this life does not count, because it will not last.

Lord, thank you for a significance in Christ that will outlast our present status, whatever it is.

 

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death will shepherd them

Posted on March 14, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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death will shepherd them

Psalm 49:13-15 (JDV)

Psalm 49:13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah

Psalm 49:14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. Those still standing will rule over them in the morning, and their image will rot in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol, because he will accept me. Selah

death will shepherd them

We have been looking at this psalm over the past few days. Like Psalm 23, it uses shepherd and sheep imagery. But the Lord is not the shepherd, and the psalmist is not the sheep.

The sheep are the enemies of the psalmist. They are being led to Sheol by Death itself.

Sheol is the Old Testament Hebrew word for the state of being dead. The Bible describes Sheol as a dark, silent place where the dead sleep until the resurrection.

Everyone goes to Sheol, and the psalmist does not deny that. But he believes that he will be redeemed from its power. The only way to be redeemed from Sheol is resurrection.

Here again, we see hints of the gospel of a resurrection at the last day, in which the redeemed will be finally set free from death.

But that is not true of the wicked. They follow death as sheep following a shepherd all their lives. They too will be raised from Sheol by Christ, but they will not be redeemed from its power. Their fate is the second death, from which there is no resurrection.

Brother, make sure you follow the right shepherd. Sister, don’t follow the crowd. Broad is the path that leads to destruction, and many follow that path in this life. This life can be deceiving, because the first death is inevitable for everyone. But the power of Sheol has been conquered by our shepherd.

Lord, we choose to put our trust in you, and follow you to permanent life. Keep our feet from following the wrong shepherd.

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not wise enough

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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not wise enough

Psalm 49:10-12 (JDV)

Psalm 49:10 You see, one can realize that the wise die; the foolish and stupid also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
Psalm 49:11 Their graves are their permanent homes, their dwellings from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.
Psalm 49:12 But despite his assets, Adam will not last; he is like the animals that perish.

not wise enough

In yesterday’s section, we found that mortality touches everyone. Even the rich among us cannot buy their way out of the grave. Today, we see that wisdom fares no better as a means of escaping death.

Wisdom can increase our chance of staying alive a little longer. It is not wise to test God by doing things that are unsafe. But even if you were to be wise in all your ways, there is still a tombstone with your name on it.

We die in this age because of the rebellion of our ancestors in Eden. The fall in the garden has already happened, so we cannot prevent it. No one is wise enough to erase the judgment of Eden.

Since Adam will not last, the wise and stupid of this age have only one chance of permanent life. We can trust in the second Adam— the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, we choose to believe in you, and not to trust in our own wisdom.

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not rich enough

Posted on March 12, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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not rich enough

Psalm 49:5-9 (JDV)

Psalm 49:5 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The violation of my foes surrounds me.
Psalm 49:6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
Psalm 49:7 Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God –
Psalm 49:8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should stop trying permanently –
Psalm 49:9 so that he may live perpetually and not see the Pit.

not rich enough

The warning to the rich here is that they are not rich enough to do something that really matters. Think about it. Even the super rich have a date with the pit. They are headed to the grave and all the money in the world cannot stop that destiny.

Jesus offers a new life— a permanent life beginning at the resurrection. But he will not be bribed. Everyone coming to him has the same need— a need only he can supply.

Thank you Jesus for offering eternal life for all of us.

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financial peace begins here

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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financial peace begins here

Psalm 49:1-4 (JDV)

Psalm 49:1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit this lifetime,
Psalm 49:2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
Psalm 49:3 My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart’s meditation brings understanding.
Psalm 49:4 I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle accompanied by a lyre.

financial peace begins here

The psalm as a whole warns people that wealth is not enough. When it comes down to the important things in life: happiness, wisdom, health, and life itself, riches will not secure any of those things.

The rich need to know that wisdom, because they are in danger of trusting in their wealth, which is misplaced trust.

The poor need to know that wisdom, because they are in danger of wasting their lives in pursuit of wealth, and missing out on real blessing in life.

Lord, thank you for what you are providing us. May we always have the wisdom to trust you more than your provision.

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within, beyond, around

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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within, beyond, around

Psalm 48:9-14 (JDV)

Psalm 48:9 God, within your temple, we contemplate your covenant faithfulness.
Psalm 48:10 Like your name, God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the land; your right hand is filled with justice.
Psalm 48:11 Mount Zion is glad. Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments.
Psalm 48:12 Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers,
Psalm 48:13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation:
Psalm 48:14 “This God, our God permanently and continually – he will always lead us.”

within, beyond, around

The psalmist celebrates God’s influence. His influence is seen in the theological and devotional contemplation of his covenant faithfulness within the temple. His influence is felt beyond the borders of Israel to the ends of the land. His influence is noted as the worshipers circle around Jerusalem and tell their children and grandchildren about God’s leadership.

Take time today, wherever you are, to think about the difference God is making in your life. He is leaving his mark.

Thank you Lord, for your undeniable presence and influence among us.watch video

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wearing his presence honorably

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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wearing his presence honorably

Psalm 48:8 (JDV)

Psalm 48:8 Just like we heard, that is what we have seen in the city of Yahveh of Armies, in the city of our God; God will establish it continually. Selah

wearing his presence honorably

The psalmist talks about the rumors he has heard of the glory and splendor of Jerusalem— how fitting and appropriate it is for God himself to reside there. Then he visited the great city and he found that all those rumors are true. He was not disappointed when he saw the real thing. The city wore God’s presence honorably.

We Christians make lots of claims about having God’s Holy Spirit live inside us as well. I wonder if we realize that people expect us to be the real thing.

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless you fail the test” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (CSB).

People should expect the best behavior and the best attitude from a life which possesses the Spirit of God.

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don’t ask

Posted on March 8, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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don’t ask

Psalm 48:4-7 (JDV)

Psalm 48:4 Notice! The kings assembled; they advanced together.
Psalm 48:5 They looked and froze with fear; they fled in terror.
Psalm 48:6 Shaking seized them there, agony like that of a woman in labor,
Psalm 48:7 as you wrecked the ships of Tarshish with the east wind.

don’t ask

Some people are bold enough to dare God to demonstrate if he has power over them. Don’t do that.

This psalm celebrates the power of God and depicts it by describing the fearful reaction of the kings of the nations to seeing his armies.

We are told in the New Testament that we should fear God rather than humans because God can do more than kill. He can (and will) destroy his enemies— soul and body— in Gehenna. The kings of the nations are right to fear him. Do not doubt his power. You could not survive a demonstration of it.

Lord, we choose to fear you, and thank you for granting us your blessing rather than the destruction we deserve.

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God’s city

Posted on March 7, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

God’s city

Psalm 48:1-3 (JDV)

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Psalm 48:1 Yahveh is great and highly praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,
Psalm 48:2 rising splendidly, the whole land enjoys Mount Zion – the summit of Zaphon – is the city of the great King.
Psalm 48:3 God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.

God’s city

This psalm is about God being a great king, and a great king deserves a great city. The seat of his power and glory is expected to be strong enough to endure and splendid enough to be enjoyed. Jerusalem does not disappoint.

Cities that are planned and constructed well are a marvel of human achievement, but Jerusalem is something more. God himself is known as the stronghold of its citadels.

So, when John sees a picture of the seat of the new universe God is planning, he calls it the New Jerusalem. God himself is its architect. He is planning a city that is strong enough to last forever,and grand enough to be enjoyed forever.

Lord, we long to see your great and glorious city!

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everyone’s king

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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everyone’s king

Psalm 47:8-9 (JDV)

Psalm 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
Psalm 47:9 The nobles of the peoples have assembled with the people of the God of Abraham because the leaders of the land belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

everyone’s king

We Christians often get a mindset where we focus on the needy, the marginalized and the poor as if they are the only ones who need the gospel. That is a natural result of our seeking those have needs in order to introduce them to Christ who has met our need for forgiveness.

But we should keep in mind that Christ came to save sinners, and that includes everyone.

This psalm celebrates God as king over the whole land, and this section highlights the prominent citizens of other nations who will bow the knee to him.

Lord, thank you for being everyone’s king.

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