THE MEDITATING HEART (2)

“My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the MEDITATION of my HEART shall give understanding” – Psalm 49:3

Wisdom and Understanding are rewards of the MEDITATING HEART: “My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the MEDITATION of my HEART shall give understanding” (Psa.49:3). Meditation refers to thoughtful contemplation or reflection for a period of time. Specifically, Christian meditation is the process of thinking scripturally; bringing God’s Word into our everyday thought life. Psalm 1:2 says the person is blessed “whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night.” God’s Recipe for prosperity, success, and dealing wisely in all the affairs of life is to talk the Word, meditate on the Word, and act on the Word: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Jos.1:8).

Psalm 49 is “A Psalm of the sons of Korah” – Levites, who by David’s era, served in temple worship (2Chr.20:19). The song is a sublime, Practical Meditation for all – “low and high, rich and poor together” – concerning the limits of material wealth (v.2). It comprises: an Introduction (vv.1-4); limits of trusting in wealth and what money can buy (vv.5-9); unreliable wealth and limited honour (vv.10-13); the dominion of the upright (vv.14-15); and practical application of the wisdom (vv.16-20). This is a good guide for those who are troubled about the wealth of the wicked. For example, there are four kinds of riches: What we HAVE; what we DO; what we KNOW; and what we ARE – riches of Character! The first – which most people exalt – is the least important kind of wealth.

The Bridgeway Bible Commentary summarised Psalm 49 as follows:

Rich and poor alike are asked to listen as the psalmist deals with a problem of life that concerns them both (1-4). The godly have no need to be anxious when the wealthy and powerful oppose them. After all, the wealthy cannot give their money to God to stop them from dying. Money cannot buy the right to live for ever. The wealthy also must die (5-9). Whether people be wise or foolish, rich or poor, they are no better off than the beasts when it comes to escaping death (10-12). Although all are equal in having to face death, they are not all equal in what they have to face after death. Those who foolishly rely on their wealth will find it unable to save them from ruin and decay in the world of the dead. On the other hand, the godly, who do not look to wealth to save them from the power of death, will find that God himself saves them, and leads them into a future life of joy (13-15). A person need not, therefore, fear or envy the rich, for their wealth is not lasting. It cannot save them from future ruin (16-20).

In essence, the Psalmist gave utterance to the results of his meditations on the limits of material wealth. Through meditation on the divine perspectives to wealth, life, death and eternity, he was rewarded with Wisdom and Understanding that stabilised his heart. This was not carnal, earthly wisdom or natural intelligence, but understanding of the proper value to be attached to wealth. Similar to Psalm 73, the writer reflected on the problem that the prosperity of the wicked poses. He observed that there are many ungodly people who enjoy many physical blessings. Still, he concluded that the righteous are better off because they have a sure hope for the future. This Psalm is an encouragement to the godly that are haunted by the power and influence of the rich!      

Believers in Christ need God’s Wisdom to establish our hearts and stabilise our lives, especially in these days that are characterised by the pervading influence of deceitful riches (Isa.33:6). Meditating causes God's Word to indwell us, such that our hearts become established, fixed, and settled. Then, we’ll be fruitful in every situation, unmoved by the circumstances around us (Psa.1:1-3).