Today, we look at an old message but with new insights. The old message is from yesterday’s verses for meditation and prayer. In those verses, we learnt what tools and weapons the Lord has given us – wisdom and understanding – that we may disciple the nations.Today, the verses of scripture that follow on the heels of yesterday’s verses from our Key Psalm, Psalm 49, reveals new insights on what wisdom and understanding provide for us.
⁵Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
⁶Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,
⁷None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him
Psalms 49:5-7
Why is the Psalmist not afraid? What is the source of his confidence? To answer this, we may need to read from the verses we meditated on yesterday, from 3 or 4, this way we see the context of the Psalmist. Let’s read it, this time from The Message Translation;
I fine-tuned my ear to the sayings of the wise, I solve life’s riddle with the help of a harp. So why should I fear in bad times, hemmed in by enemy malice?
Psalm 49:4-5 MSG
You see that? The source of the Psalmist confidence is the defense that wisdom gives. He contrasts this with the folly of the rich who put their confidence in their wealth.
As the scripture says,
For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
Ecclesiastes 7:12
Another scripture says,
Wisdom is better than weapons of war…”
Ecclesiastics 9:18a
So, why do people pursue material wealth instead of wisdom since it is evidently of more value?
Well, for starters, the answer is in what they can spend it on.
Wisdom cannot be spent on frivolities like worldly pleasures unlike ‘filthy lucre’. But beyond that, people chase after fleeting riches rather than wisdom because the price of money is cheaper than the price of wisdom. You only need to read the entire 28th chapter of the book of Job to confirm this.
Here is a snipet of what that chapter says;
No mention shall be made of coral or quartz, For the price of wisdom is above rubies.
Job 28:18
Why pursue money that cannot buy wisdom, true defense and grant you life beyond the grave when you can pursue wisdom and have it all?
¹⁶[Wisdom] is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.
¹⁷Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor.
¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.
Proverbs 3:18
What is the final verdict of the Psalmist? It is very simply and clear;
People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 49:20 NIV
Here is our prayer for today;
That we may remain fearless against those whose only defense is material.
May we never trust in fleeting riches.
May the Lord grant us to reap the rewards of wisdom that transcends material possession and what money can buy.
May we not lack understanding in the midst of plenty least we die like the beast that perishes.
Make us Wise, Fearless and Transcendent.
Adams Allison
©️Pagemaster Apostolic Centre