To the Chief Musician, with Stringed Instruments, a Psalm of David
1. When I call answer me, O God of my righteousness. In distress you have enlarged me. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. 2. O sons of men, how long will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love vanity and seek a lie? Selah 3. And know that Yahweh has set apart the godly one for himself. Yahweh will hear when I call unto him. 4. Tremble and do not sin. Talk with your heart on your bed and be silent. Selah 5. Offer the offerings of righteousness, And trust in Yahweh. 6. Many are saying, “Who will cause us to see good?” Lift on us the light of your face, O Yahweh. 7. You have given joy in my heart More than the time their grain and their wine increased. 8. In peace I will both lie down and I will sleep, For you, Yahweh, alone in safety cause me to dwell.
Notes
Hebrew has two phrases that our translations render as sons of man or sons of men. One of the phrases is “bene adam.” It means simply humans, sons of Adam. The other, “bene ish,” refers to the noble, wealthy and powerful. The difference is clear in Psalm 49:1–2: “Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high, rich and poor together.” In the Hebrew “low and high” is “sons of man and sons of men.” David uses the latter here; he is talking to the rich and exalted.
This is important because God is taking these powerful men to task for turning his glory, that is the glory of wealth that God has given them, to shame. The word for glory sometimes means wealth (cf. Gen 31:1 and Ps 49:16–17). Why have they sought that wealth as an end in itself, thus loving vanity and pursuing a lie? The Lord sets apart the godly, not the wealthy, for himself. David advises them to tremble with fear, meditate in their hearts, offer righteous sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
On the other hand, there are many others who do not enjoy the same level of wealth who are saying, “Who will show us any good?” David does not give them direct advice but first prays, “Lift on us the light of your face,” and then sets himself before them as an example: “I have more joy than those sons of men, because in the Lord I have both peace and security.”
Christology
Our Lord lived through similar circumstances. Some of the sons of men at the time of his earthly ministry clung desperately to their wealth and power as if they were the goal of life. Others wanted him to help them to the wealth of which they thought they had been deprived. One man asked him to “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me (Lk 12:13).” Jesus’ answer was, “Beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Furthermore, throughout his life Jesus trusted his heavenly Father to lead him through the way of suffering to eternal glory. He could lie down in peace and sleep, even when the mighty waves of the sea (often a symbol for enemies) threatened him.
He made himself poor, that we through his poverty might become rich, but the riches he gives are treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal. When we trust in him, we have more joy than any amount of earthly treasure can give. He gives a lasting peace and security which no one can take away.