SCRIPTURE READING:
Psalm 49:12–15 KJV
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: Yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: For he shall receive me. Selah.
INTRODUCTION:
Similarly to Psalm 37, this Psalm helps us respond to God in faith when wrongdoers prosper around us.
Psalm 49:5–6 KJV
5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? 6 They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
In contrast, this Psalm focuses on eternal salvation rather than the general salvation of a life deliverance.
A key word in this Psalm is the word redemption.
Redemption:
“The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom.” —Easton’s Bible Dictionary
PAYMENT ILLUSTRATIONS:
Have you ever had insufficient or unavailable funds for a purchase?
• Woman invited by church second time after someone paid her grocery bill at the counter
• I forgot my wallet for a lunch appointment but made due
• Unaccepted currency when abroad
Making payments, especially ransoms, have to be paid satisfactorily.
#6 Patty Hearst
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PattyHearstmug.jpg
Ransomed for $6 million in 1974.
Equivalent to $29.3 million today.
A sophomore at Cal Berkeley, the 19-year-old heiress to the Hearst media conglomerate and her boyfriend were kidnapped by left-wing militants known as the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA).
The SLA demanded that her family distribute $70 worth of food to every needy Californian, which would have cost an estimated $400 million. Hearst’s father eventually distributed $6 million in food, but the kidnappers were unsatisfied, claiming the food was of low quality, and they refused to release his daughter
Later Patty would join the SLA, becoming the poster child for Stockholm Syndrome. And she’d get arrested (see attached mugshot).
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The message of this Psalm is a message of justice and redemption needed by all people throughout the world: the unknown and the powerful, the rich and the poor.
Psalm 49:1–2 KJV
1 Hear this, all ye people; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: 2 Both low and high, Rich and poor, together.
I. The Reality of Death
#1 We all experience death , yet many fight it. (vs. 10-13)
Fight it with wealth, legacy, and monuments.
Psalm 49:10–13 KJV
10 For he seeth that wise men die, Likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, And leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, And their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names. 12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: Yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
#2 Some remain under the power of death, while others do not. (vs. 14)
Psalm 49:14 KJV
14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
(Personification of Death as a shepherd.)
#3 We cannot redeem our souls or the souls of others from the power of death. (vs. 7-9)
Psalm 49:7–9 KJV
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 soul is precious, And it ceaseth for ever:) 9 That he should still live for ever, And not see corruption.
#4 God does redeem souls from the power of death. (vs. 15)
Psalm 49:15 KJV
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: For he shall receive me. Selah.
#5 Our earthly possessions will not be redeemed. (vs. 17-20)
Psalm 49:17 KJV
17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: His glory shall not descend after him.
1 Timothy 6:7–8 KJV
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
II. The Redemption of Christ
#1 Jesus came to pay our ransom .
Mark 10:45 KJV
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Galatians 3:13 KJV
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
1 Peter 1:18–19 KJV
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Ephesians 1:7 KJV
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
#2 Jesus’ redemption is received through faith , not earned or purchased by us.
Colossians 1:12–14 KJV
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 3:22–24 KJV
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
#3 Jesus’ redemption gives us victory over death.
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 KJV
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
III. The Responsibility of the Redeemed
#1 The redeemed live for the Redeemer.
1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
#2 The redeemed find fullness of life by losing it in the purposes and plans of the Redeemer.
Matthew 16:21–27 KJV
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
CONCLUSION:
Psalm 49:1–2 KJV
1 Hear this, all ye people; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: 2 Both low and high, Rich and poor, together.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Winston Churchill
A wealthy English family once invited friends to spend some time at their beautiful estate. The happy gathering was almost plunged into a terrible tragedy on the first day. When the children went swimming, one of them got into deep water and was drowning. Fortunately, the gardener heard the others screaming and plunged into the pool to rescue the helpless victim. That youngster was Winston Churchill. His parents, deeply grateful to the gardener, asked what they could do to reward him. He hesitated, then said, “I wish my son could go to college someday and become a doctor.” “We’ll pay his way,” replied Churchill’s parents. Years later when Sir Winston was prime minister of England, he was stricken with pneumonia. Greatly concerned, the king summoned the best physician who could be found to the bedside of the ailing leader. That doctor was Sir Alexander Fleming, the developer of penicillin. He was also the son of that gardener who had saved Winston from drowning as a boy! Later Churchill said, “Rarely has one man owed his life twice to the same person.” What was rare in the case of that great English statesman is in a much deeper sense a wonderful reality for every believer in Christ. The Heavenly Father has given us the gift of physical life, and then through His Son, the Great Physician, He has imparted to us eternal life. May the awareness that we are doubly indebted to God as our Creator and Redeemer motivate us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him. – D.J.D
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