the equalizer

Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49:20

What is being said here is significant. A life uninformed by the wisdom and truth of God’s Word is not only devoid of wisdom, but really will be without true meaning and purpose. Human beings left to their pride and pretentious thinking are no better than animals. We need the wisdom of God. We need the redeeming grace of God.

Look how this psalm describes the very “best” someone can achieve without God. They can become rich and gain fame (Psalm 49:16). It seems like that is a pretty decent outcome. But when death takes them, that’s it. Done. Game Over. When they join the Dead Club, the grave doesn’t recognize them as anything special. They are all just... dead (Psalm 49:17). In life this person seemed to have it all, but in the end, they are as dead as anybody else. The grave is a humiliator for all human achievement.... the ultimate equalizer.

This psalm also points to a reality beyond the disillusionment of death’s permanence. Wealth cannot ransom the soul, this is quite apparent. Rich people don’t live forever (Psalm 49:7-9). But God ransoms the souls of His people (Psalm 49:15). He provides the means to have them live beyond the seeming end. The ransomed of God are not shut down by the grave. Their souls are ransomed from the power of death as they are received into the presence of God (Psalm 49:15).

As a Christian, these observations from Psalm 49 and the hint at living beyond death in God’s presence are joyously confirmed and celebrated in Christ Who has defeated the great equalizer! Jesus by his resurrection had made the grave not an end, but the doorway to eternal life. And in that truth we confidently entrust all we are in the hope of our Savior (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)!