A devotional reading for our Senior Group (OASIS)*
So now and then a song will pop up into my head and I will have no idea where it comes from. It is just there; and it usually sticks around for a while. A lot of them are psalms or hymns especially ones I learned long ago or sung in school or church. Some are a surprise: Wow where did that come from?
So the other morning I got up and immediately Psalm 49 popped into my head. Yes, Psalm 49 is not even a familiar or preached about many times Psalm. If it had been Psalm 42, ‘As the Hart about to falter’ or Psalm 23 ‘the Lord is my Shephard I shall not want’ or even Psalm 139 ‘Search me and know my heart O Lord’ or even more popular majestically sung with gusto Psalm 68 ‘God shall arise and by his might put all his enemies to flight’ or one of the more most popular like Psalms 116 ‘I love the Lord the fount of life and grace’ or maybe even the lovely Psalm 84 ‘O Lord of hosts, O God of grace how lovely is thy holy place’ that all would have been a usually perfect uplifting strong start setting for the day ahead. No, it had to be Psalm 49 in verse-form as composed by Lowell Mason (who wrote over 1600 hymns) and this one set to a sad melody, although in some versions enlivened somewhat by whole and half notes like a little dance tune.
The words came to me quickly: ‘Dust to dust the mortal dies, both the foolish and the wise, none forever can remain, each much leave his hoarded gain. Yet within their hearts they say, that their houses are for aye, that their dwelling places grand; shall for generations stand.’
Where did this come from? What or who planted this in my brain that morning. Did it reflect the news I heard on TV just before bedtime last night? Maybe I should stop doing that. Or is it the Lord’s way of giving me a grounding as to where my life is at. After all, I am over 80. Or was it the news of a son in our near family circle again being out of the house and into whatever. Perhaps it was the last book I read that recounted a highschool friend’s family immigration trials and her life journeys of growing up. Perhaps!
My brother-in-law when he was in the hospital said: Please bring me a Psalter Hymnal instead of a Bible, I get more out of the Hymns and Psalms, as they speak more to my cancerous condition, for if I can sing about my faith anchors, even though some will remind me of bad times, my soul will be at rest. He loved singing.
Tim Keller was a New York pastor wrote a lot of books. One of those was ‘a year’s devotional journey through the Psalms’ entitled: The Songs of Jesus. Yes, I am sure Jesus sang the Psalms as we read him quoting them quite often in the Gospels. Even Psalm 49! Reflected in Jesus’ story of the rich fool! And you know, even though the words are dreary and it has a strong Lamenting subject theme. It is actually quite uptodate knowing the problems we face today in our church, our people and country and even in the world at large. Amid all this, there pops out a gem of an encouraging line in this Psalm one for all the saints who confess that great answer to Question 1;
And that little gem is at line 15 where the Psalmist says: ‘But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.’
And that makes this Psalm worth knowing and singing.
Praise God for his amazing Word. Listen:
Psalm 49 For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
Listen up, everyone!
All you who reside in this world, give an ear!
2 Everyone—rich and poor,
young and old, wise and foolish, humble and mighty—
3 My mouth will overflow with wisdom; the reflections of my heart will guide you to understand the nature of life.
4 I will tune my ear to the words of a proverb; to the sounds of a harp, I will reveal my riddle.
5 Why should I be afraid when dark evils swirl about me, when I am walking among the sin of evildoers—
6 Those who depend on their own fortunes, who boast about their earthly riches?
7 One person can’t grant salvation to another or make a payment to the True God for another.
8 Redeeming a life is costly; no premium is enough, ever enough,
9 That one’s body might live on forever and never fear the grave’s decay.
10 Everyone knows that even the wisest ones die, perishing together with the foolish and the stupid.
For all die—beggars and kings, fools and wise men.
Their wealth remains behind for others.
11 Although they wish to dwell in fine houses forever, their graves are their real resting places.
Their homes are for all future generations, yet for a while they have named lands after themselves.
12 [No one, regardless of how rich or important, can live forever;
he is just like the animals that perish and decay.
13 This is the destiny of those foolish souls who have faith only in themselves;
this will be the end of those happy to follow in their ways.
[pause]
14 The fate of fools is the grave, and just like sheep, death will feast on them.
The righteous will rule over them at dawn,
their bodies, their outward forms, rotting in the grave
far away from their great mansions.
15 But God will reach into the grave and save my life from its power. He will fetch me and take me into His eternal house.
[pause]
16 Do not be afraid of the rich and powerful as their prestige and honor grow,
17 For they cannot take anything with them when they die.
Their fame and glory will not follow them into the grave.
18 During their lives, they seek every blessing and advantage because others praise you when you’ve done well.
19 But they will soon join their ancestors, for all of time, among the tombs of the faithless—a place of no light.
20 Anyone who is rich or important without understanding is just like the animals that perish and decay.
Translation used for the above Psalm: Biblegateway.com/Psalm49 – Tr. the Voice
Prayer: O Lord; you in your great mercy told us that you will never leave or forsake those who walk with you in sincerity of heart. For from You flows the fountain of our lives.
Bless us now; for we too are sometimes burdened by the cares of the day and jealous of worldly possessions.
Cleanse our hearts. And may your Word be a lamp to our feet and a light on our path.
AMEN
*OASIS = Older Adults Sharing In Service
Featured picture: a view of rural Iowa (2015)
JS June 16, 2025
On the Road 