Listen Up!

One of the phrases I heard when I was in the Navy was, “Listen up.” When one of the superiors said this, we were careful to pay attention. The psalmist is saying, “Listen up!” in Psalm 49:1-3.

Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
both low and high,
rich and poor together!
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

What he has to say is for all people. If you know Jesus or not, you should pay attention. This word of wisdom is for weak people who are scorned by those who believe religion is a crutch. It is for people who are strong and think they need nothing from God or man. It applies to you and me whether we are rich or poor.

This Psalm is loaded with wisdom for people who are fearful, have been mistreated, trust in their wealth, or boast about their riches. It warns us that money or our status in society will not save us from hell. Everyone dies whether wise, fools, or the upper class. Fools, according to another Psalm are those who say there is no God. Fools are also those who trust in themselves or anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ for salvation. They all perish and end up in hell.

 Verse 15 says, “But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.” How can he be so confident? How can anyone be confident of this? If you really want to know, watch my video on the Gospel on YouTube or read on this Gospel link.

Wisdom Gained and Lost

 

Do you ever ask for wisdom? What do you want to do with that wisdom?

Solomon was much wiser when he first became king than at the end of his reign.

 

When he asked for wisdom, it is summarized in 1 Kings 3:9  when Solomon had a dream and ask the Lord, "Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” The Lord was pleased and responded in verse 12 "Behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. ESV

 

Don't you wish that our government leaders would ask the Lord for wisdom to run the country and know good from evil? I sure do. But the story doesn't end there. Listen to how Solomon finished his life.

 

In 1 Kings 11:1 it says, "Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women." ESV The Lord had expressly commanded that Israelites not marry in these nations because they would turn them to worship their idols instead of the Lord. And indeed, Solomon made idols for his wives. In verse 5 it says he went after the these gods which means he worshiped them.

 

That was the beginning of Solomon's downfall as he threw the Lord's wisdom out the window. Apparently he didn't follow his own advice in Prov 4:5 "Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth." ESV

 

We are told in 1 Cor 10:11-12 that all the things written in the OT were written as examples. They were written as warnings so if we think we are standing firm, we need to be careful that we don't fall.

 

Following in verse 13, we are told that the Lord won't give us anything we can't handle but will give us the way out of temptations. So let us be careful to ask for wisdom but when we get it, to follow it.

 

For anyone who doesn't know Jesus as Savior, getting wisdom means getting saved first. Watch my video on Youtube, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" if you want to find how to be saved.

 

May God Bless you.

 

After getting wisdom we need to follow it or we will fall into sin like King Solomon did. #bibledevotion #Solomon #government #wisdom #temptation #falling #leaders #repent #salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves