A Legacy of Confidence and Courage
Psalm
49:5-15 Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes
surrounds me. 6 They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God-- 8 since the price
of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying-- 9 so that he
may live forever and not see the Pit.
10
For one can see that wise men die; foolish and stupid men also pass away. Then
they leave their wealth to others. 11 Their graves are their eternal
homes, their homes from generation to generation, though they have named
estates after themselves. 12 But despite his assets, man will not last; he is
like the animals that perish. 13 This is the way of those who are arrogant, and
of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah 14 Like sheep they are
headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them.
The
upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol,
far from their lofty abode. 15 But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol,
for He will receive me. Selah (CSB)
When
it comes to teaching about God's word in catechism class there's certainly many
teachings that are controversial to the world. The Bible is very clear and
upfront right away that, at times, it's going to offend the sinful flesh within
all of us. The Bible is going to present truths about God that are challenging
and difficult to accept. The Bible tells us things that only God can do that
are beyond the realm of our control or power. And the entire essence of
Christianity – faith, is something that is not based on our works or ability.
So,
in many respects it shouldn't surprise us that the Bible tells people things
that they don't want to hear; or in the very least things that they don't want
to believe. What I find interesting is that one of the most controversial
things about the Bible, and something that comes up often in Bible instruction,
is that God would deliver people by bringing them to heaven. In catechism class
we talk about the different ways that God delivers us from evil. God can use His
power and might to miraculously take evil way. God can use some earthly agent
to protect us from evil. But God can also use evil to bring a Christian home to
heaven. According to the world, that doesn't seem like God is delivering us
from evil. When somebody dies, especially somebody who's been a faithful
follower of God, it's hard for us to reconcile in our minds that that was good
for them that God used that to deliver them.
But
in terms of our faith there is no greater deliverance then eternal life in
heaven. God may use a miracle to protect us from evil or he may use an earthly
agent to deliver us from evil but while we're here on earth we still are under
the same threat. Until we get to heaven, we have not reached the final goal
that God has accomplished for us and what he intends for our lives. The reason
this is controversial in the world around us is because it's not really what
many people are looking for. And it’s tempting for Christians to do the same –
to place their hopes in this life and not the next. How often do you long for
heaven? How much time do you spend investing for eternity through the Word of
God, rather than investing for life today? The old saying “what have you done
for me lately?” comes to mind when people talk about their faith or perhaps the
reason why they don't have faith. For so many people God hasn't done enough for
them lately so why trust in Him for the future?
Just
like that, something so simple and basic to the Bible; so fundamental to our
Christian faith - that God delivers people by bringing them home to heaven -
becomes a controversial statement in and of itself. It’s offensive sometimes to
even say that. Many people would rather trust in themselves or in politicians
to find purpose in life. Many would rather pursue money and possessions rather
than the peace that surpasses everything in Christ Jesus.
In
our portion of God’s Word today, the sons of Korah express similar thoughts as
they begin with that very first question “why should I fear in times of trouble?”
If we wanted to look for a modern-day answer to that question it wouldn't take
us very long. People fear and tremble over so many things nowadays. Financial
crisis, climate change, racism, political influence and control, protection for
our children, gun control - there's so many topics today that people have fears
about. And it's easy to let our lives turn into a tailspin when we don't have
the kind of control that we want to have in these issues. If we feel like the
world is going down the wrong path, or the wrong kind of influences are gaining
control, it's so easy to let fear control our lives.
But
the sons of Korah asked this question in almost a defiant way. They speculate
with confidence why should I fear with knowledge already about the answer. The
question merely sets the stage for the one answer that is already apparent for
the believer. They don't have to fear because God is in control. From their perspective
they also list a multitude of reasons why, reasonably or logically, they could
fear. These reasons apply also to us as Christians today.
- · Wicked foes that
surround us.
- · Threats to our faith on
a daily basis.
- · Vanity and futility
seemingly everywhere around us.
- · The hopelessness of
looking out into to a world that seems to have given up every aspect of
following God.
All
Christians who have ever lived recognize the imminent threat of dangers like
these particularly to our faith.
And
even if you're not a religious person you can still find a multitude of reasons
to fear. The biggest one, that we all face, is stated in this psalm as Sheol.
Sheol was the Hebrew understanding for the grave, for the place of the dead. When
somebody stopped living they would go to Sheol. It is the place that was beyond
human control, it is the realm of death. Sheol is the great equalizer for all
mankind. No matter how powerful you are; no matter how much money you have; or
how much land you have; no matter how much influence you have - no one can
escape Sheol. The poor and the rich are equal in the realm of the dead.
As
Christians we recognize that there are greater dangers to us, especially to our
faith, than the prospect of death. But the reality of death is a common bond
that we share with all people. The underlying question here is when we look at
the reality of the world around us what hope do we have?
When
contemplating wisdom and instruction, Solomon once remarked in the book of
Ecclesiastes “all is vanity and there is nothing new under the sun.” We
certainly see that to be the case as the sons of Korah describe the hope that
many people have in the world when facing death. Their hope is in their possessions,
and their money, and their influence. People have hope in these things for the
present time but also that they would leave a legacy for themselves and for the
generations to come because of these things. And some things never change. It's
the very same approach by many people today. For them life becomes a matter of
getting the most and of having the most fulfillment and pleasure today. We hear
terms like “following our own dreams” and “finding our happiness” and “living
our best lives.”
The
point of this psalm is to confront those hopes in view of the reality of Sheol.
The Psalm states: Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to
God-- 8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop
trying-- 9 so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
The
reality of death rips to shreds any hope that we have in money or possessions.
They can be a type of temporary balm to the difficulties and adversity's that
we face on earth, but it's more like a form of lying to ourselves about the
reality of the future. We know that there's a lot more to human fulfillment and
existence than having the most and finding the greatest pleasure. Deep inside
we all long for true meaning and purpose in our lives that cannot be purchased
with money or gained by possessions. We live this way because God created us to
recognize who He is; and He wants us to seek after Him and find in His Word. The
psalm describes that as redemption.
No
amount of human effort or influence can get us the redemption that we need;
that fills our hearts from the void that sin and iniquity have created. Only
God can redeem a human soul. The psalm goes on to tell us why – because of what
Sheol does to money and possessions: But despite his assets, man will not
last; he is like the animals that perish. 13 This is the way of those who are
arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah 14 Like
sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them.
Here
we get a taste of the brutal side of true equality. True equality means that no
matter how good you paint yourself out to be in life you're still a sinner who
needs redemption from God. True equality means that whether you're rich or poor
you're in the same boat - outside of the realm of eternal life with God. Equality
recognizes that both the wise and the fool must confront death at some point.
It's sad that so many people live their lives not only in denial of this truth,
but in ways that continue to suppress it. It's almost as if we go out of our
way to do anything we can to avoid the reality that's coming down the road – even
though we know deep in our hearts.
This
is quite a problem that is described here by the sons of Korah. These are not
light topics. And yet, remember the beginning defiantly asks “why should I fear
in times of trouble?” When there’s so much of life that is ultimately beyond my
control, and I can’t escape the reality of the grave – what gives me courage?
Well,
this is not arrogance, and it's not foolish thinking, it's the reality of
having confidence in God's redemption through Christ. Your courage as a
believer stems from the riches of God in Christ Jesus, not in the riches of
your bank account or any other element of human legacy. You can be honest about
the reality of facing death at some point in your life, but you don't have to shutter
in fear because you have something that is greater and more powerful. More
pointedly, you have someone who is greater and more powerful. The only thing
you can carry with you that won't get ripped to shreds by Sheol are the merits
and accomplishments of Jesus. He has redeemed your life from sin, death, and
hell. His victory of life is yours by faith.
A
Legacy in the Gospel is worth building today and leaving to the next generation
in the future. Let us not bind ourselves to the world around us – in futility
and fear. Now that you are redeemed by Christ, when God looks at you He sees
someone who has conquered the grave. You have every right to boast that you
will get to heaven and that you have nothing to fear; not because you earned it;
not because you accumulated enough wealth on your own; not because you found
the secret to success in this life. You have full confidence and assurance of
eternal life and victory over the grave because God is received you as His own by
faith – faith that is guaranteed by the blood of God’s own Son. Amen.
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