The Life
Psalm 49:1-20
"Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.'"
(John 6:68-69)
The Hebrew word for life is Chaim. Le'Chaim, "to life," is a common word heard again and again with passion in Jewish celebrations. The Jewish people, like many, love life and enjoy it to the full. But what exactly is life all about? It is obviously more than just making money and having fun. And, believe it or not, it is more than raising our children and holding our grandchildren.
John in his Gospel uses the word "life" some 50 times. Obviously, this was an important word and concept. Jesus is the Life. He has life in and of Himself, and independent of anything or anyone. We have life because it was given to us by Him. And despite all the efforts of scientists, we cannot create life. It is given to us by the source of life Himself, Jesus.
Jesus can give up His life freely because it is His. Our life is not ours. We have no control or choice about the time that we are born, or die (Even in a person's attempt to override that, God's purposes reign!). Be thankful for His great gift of life to us.
INSIGHT
If our lives are not ours, why is it that we live them as if they are completely and only ours?
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Isaiah 9-10
Psalm 76
John 17
Psalm 49:1-20
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—
9 so that they should live on forever
and not see decay.
10 For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses[b] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had[c] named lands after themselves.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
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