The Confidence of the Foolish

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 49:1-20

 

Psalm 49:15

But God will redeem my soul from the power of ^[f]the grave,
For He shall receive me. Selah

(NKJV)

 

Confidence is something every person needs, but it is crucial to ensure one’s confidence is in the right thing. David, the King of Israel who experienced many victories in battle, tells us that his trust was not in his weapons of war, but in the Lord (Psalm 20:7). As you read this post, I encourage you to consider where you place your trust and if you want to place your trust in the Lord, you will have an opportunity to do so at the end of this post.

 

Psalm 49 is addressed to all peoples and inhabitants of the world, whether of low or high esteem and regardless of whether they are rich or poor (Psalm 49:1-2). The psalmist will speak wisdom from a heart meditating on the things of the Lord, using a harp to deliver his message (Psalm 49:3-4). This audience includes us all, so we should all listen.

 

The psalmist then asks why he should fear in the days of evil when iniquity is all around him, nipping at his heels (Psalm 49:5). Those trusting in their wealth cannot redeem their brother nor come up with a sufficient ransom for his salvation (Psalm 49:6-7). This is because the price of the redemption of our souls is costly, with the opportunity to acquire a ransom by coming to Jesus (Psalm 49:8-9).

 

When the wise, rich, and wealthy die, they must leave their wealth to others, believing their houses will last forever, and that they will leave a legacy, having their lands called by their names (Psalm 49:10-11). However, the truth is that man, like the beasts of the earth, will perish (Psalm 49:12). This is the folly of the confidence of fools and those approving their sayings (Psalm 49:13). These foolish individuals are like sheep laid in the grave with their beauty consumed by the grave and the upright having dominion over them (Psalm 49:14). In contrast, the psalmist has confidence the Lord will redeem his soul from the power of the grave and receive him (Psalm 49:15).

 

The psalm concludes with the psalmist telling us not to fear when one becomes rich and when the glory of his house increases (Psalm 49:16). The confident fool will die and not be able to take his riches and wealth with him and see his glory descend into the pit after him (Psalm 49:17). While the confident fool lives he blesses himself, with people praising him, but he will go with the generation of his fathers and never see light (Psalm 49:18-19). A man with honor lacking understanding of God is like the beasts that perish (Psalm 49:20).

 

The psalmist addresses the confidence of fools who trust in their wisdom, wealth, and riches to take care of them. While these things may provide comfort in this world, they are insufficient as a ransom for a fallen soul. The psalmist, David, reminds us to place our trust in the Lord (Psalm 20:7). Jesus told us that He was the way, the truth, and the life, not a way, a truth, and a life (John 14:6). In this psalm, the psalmist mentions the costly price for the redemption of souls (Psalm 49:8). Jesus, although never sinning, paid the ransom for humanity’s souls through his death, burial, and resurrection (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:9-10). This is the cost of our salvation, with Jesus the only one able to pay the cost, with salvation available to all through the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9).  

 

It is foolish to trust in the created things of this world and wise to place one’s trust in the creator instead. However, this goes against what is popular in our culture, which tells us to work hard to amass worldly wealth so we can live the good life. While there is nothing wrong with acquiring wealth, when the acquisition of wealth is our treasure, that is where our heart will be instead of belonging with the Lord (Matthew 6:21). An evil, wicked, and fallen world needs to see God’s people bringing forth good things from a heart full of the treasure of God’s Word and not evil things (Matthew 12:35). My confidence is in the Lord and not the riches, wealth, and wisdom of the world. As believers, we must lose conformity to the world and its system and allow our minds to be transformed and renewed by the Word of God.

 

If you have never prayed for God to forgive your sins and to make Him the treasure of your heart, I invite you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

 If you just prayed, rest assured that God has totally forgiven you and that you are a child of God (2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:12). Find a Church where the truth of the Bible is taught so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.