Ps. 49 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm is penned upon the same occasion with Psalms 39:0; Ps. 73:0, to wit, upon the contemplation of the afflictions of God’s people and of the prosperity and glory of ungodly men The design is to justify God’s providence in this dark dispensation, and to show that, all…

All ye people, Heb. all people; Jews or Gentiles; for all are concerned in this matter, as being apt to stumble and murmur at it.

It concerns you diligently to attend to me, for I am about to speak not of vulgar and trivial things, or such as come suddenly into my mind, and rush as hastily out of my mouth, but of such things as are the result of my most serious and considerate thoughts, and such as, if you observe them and…

I will incline mine ear: this is another argument to persuade them to hearken to him: I will hearken what God by his Spirit speaks to me, and that and nothing else will I now speak to you; and therefore it is well worth your hearing.

He speaks in his own person, because he had now said that he would incline his ear, Ps. 49:4, i.e. learn and practise what he was teaching others; but his meaning is more general, that there is no sufficient cause why he or any good man should fear; which is to be understood of excessive or…

As that which can and will secure them from God’s judgments, and from the calamities of human life. The psalmist having said that he and other good men had no sufficient cause of fear from their present sufferings from ungodly men, now he proceeds, on the contrary, to show that his ungodly enemies…

Redeem, to wit, from death, as appears from Ps. 49:9–10;c. neither from the first death, nor from the second, which he points at Ps. 49:14, Ps. 49:19. His brother; whom he would do his utmost to preserve in life; and consequently not himself.

Of their soul, i.e. of their life, as soul is commonly used. Is precious, i.e. rare, as the word is used, 1 Sam. 3:1, Dan. 2:11, hard to be obtained. But he doth not call it simply impossible, because Christ hath purchased this privilege for his true disciples, that in some sense they shall not see…

Or, the pit, or the grave, i.e. not die, as that phrase is oft used, as has been noted before.

He seeth; an impersonal expression. Every man sees and knows it; it is visible and evident, both from reason and from universal experience, that all men die, without any difference between wise and fools, good and bad.

Their inward thought is; though they are ashamed to express it, yet it is their secret opinion, and hope, and wish. Their houses; either, 1. Their posterity, oft called men’s houses 2 Sam. 7:11;c. Ps. 113:9, Ps. 115:12. Or, 2.

Notwithstanding all these fine fancies and devices man being in honour, living in all the splendour and glory above mentioned, abideth not. The Hebrew word properly signifies to lodge for a night, as Gen. 32:21, Judg. 19:10; and thence to abide for a long or considerable time, as Ps. 25:13, Ps.

This their way, i.e. their counsel and contrivance to immortalize themselves. Is their folly; though to themselves and some otters it seem to be wisdom, yet in truth it is apparent folly and madness.

Like sheep; which for a season are fed in large and sweet pastures, but at the owner’s pleasure are put together in close and comfortless folds, and led away to the slaughter, not knowing nor considering whither they are going. In the grave; or, in hell; for the Hebrew word signifies both.

Though no man can find out a ransom to redeem himself or his brother, yet God can and will redeem me. My soul; either properly; or myself or life; for all comes to one. Of the grave; or, of hell; for he speaks of that sheol in which the wicked are left.

Afraid, i.e. discouraged or dejected. The prosperity of the sinners is oft matter of fear and dread to good men; partly because it enables them to do more mischief; and partly because it shakes their faith in God’s providence and promises, and is apt to engender suspicions in men’s minds, as if God…

For as he will shortly die, so all his wealth, and power, and glory will die with him, and thou wilt have no cause either to envy or fear him.

He blessed his soul, i.e. he applauded himself as a wise and happy man: compare Luke 12:19. Men will praise thee: and as he pleaseth and flattereth himself, so he meets with parasites that applaud and flatter him for their own advantage.

Now he returns again to the third person. Such sudden and repeated changes are frequent in this book. To the generation of his fathers, i.e. to the grave and hell, where he shall meet with his wicked parents, who by their counsel and example led him into his evil courses; as the godly also are said…

Understandeth not, i.e. hath not true wisdom, to know and consider what he is, and what his true business and interest in this world is, and what use he should make of his life, and of all his riches, and honour, and power, and whither he is going, and what course to take for the attainmerit of…