Hear this, all peoples;
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—
8 For the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever—
9 That he should continue to live eternally,
And not see the Pit.
10 For he sees wise men die;
Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
11Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,
Their dwelling places to all generations;
They call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not [d]remain;
He is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
Death shall feed on them;
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
For He shall receive me. Selah
16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.
By Mike Chaffin
So many people rest on their riches keeping them safe and secure. However, death comes to all regardless of status. This poem by the Sons of Korah expounds on this wisdom taught in the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It follows so closely the teaching in Ecclesiastes that this poem could have been written as an accompaniment.
The poem asks, “Why should I fear in the days of evil when iniquity is nipping at my heels?” For a Christian, the answer should be a simple, “I don’t have to for love casts out fear.” The source of this love is Jesus Christ living in us, strengthening us, and comforting us even through the most trying of times. Those without Christ should fear, for their fate will be eternal death.
The Heidelberg Catechism asked this question in a slightly different way. It asks, “What is your only comfort in life and death? This is a soul probing question. Our comfort in life might be our wealth but that won’t help us beat death, nor go with us to the grave. The only answer is Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paying for my sins and freeing me from the power of evil, will follow me through death and into Heaven.
The catechism goes on to say we must know these three things, 1) there will still be sin and misery as human faults and troubles complicate our lives. 2) We rise above these troubles through salvation in Jesus Christ alone who brings us the peace that passes all understanding and fills us with the Holy Spirit whom Jesus called The Comforter. 3) Singing praises to God for this great deliverance brings joy to our hearts and to His ears.
Wise men die as do the foolish. The foolish person in this poem is one who hasn’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. As Jesus said to His disciples, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. Lo, I am with you until the end of the age.” These are comforting words and help us order our lives in this disorderly world. The writer of Hebrews wrote,
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6
Further wanting to ensure we get the message of Christ’s unchanging love for us that anchors our lives through this rough life he wrote,
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18-19
The foolish say there is no God. Wisdom begins by fearing God. Putting our faith in Jesus Christ causes the fifteenth verse of this poem to pop out.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah
There is no greater comfort than knowing your eternal destiny is sure, and Jesus waits for you.
