Shalom,
Psalm 49:1-3:
1 HEAR THIS, all you people; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world, 2 Both low and high, rich and poor together: 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
The message about to be delivered is to all of the inhabitants of the "world". That is a unique Hebrew word "cheled", which means: the total human scene, the whole sphere of passing life. That means that all who have ever passed this way or will ever pass this way SHOULD hear and heed this message! What is the message? Verses 7-12:
7 None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him -- 8 For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice -- 9 So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption. 10 For he sees that even wise men die; the [self-confident] fool and the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own [apart from God] and after their own names. 12 But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
The message is that this life is so very fleeting in comparison to the length of eternity! To put all of our focus and attention on obtaining honor, glory, fame, fortune, treasure, in and for this life will leave us bankrupt for eternity! The only important treasure for us to focus on is the ONE Who lives inside of us as born again believers in Jesus of Nazareth! We have THIS treasure in our earthen vessels (2 Corinthians 4:7)! Focusing on THIS Treasure will cause all other treasures the world strives for to flow into our lives (Matthew 6:33)! AMEN!
In Titus 3:2-6, Paul instructs us how to treat the unbelievers we come in contact with.
2 To slander or abuse or speak evil of no one, to avoid being contentious, to be forbearing (yielding, gentle, and conciliatory), and to show unqualified courtesy toward everybody. 3 For we also were once thoughtless and senseless, obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures, wasting our days in malice and jealousy and envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating each other. 4 But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 Which He poured our [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
It is ridiculous to judge the sinner! They are simply being who they are! Share the Gospel with them so that they, too, can become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the Holy Spirit can help them make a new way of life! Glory to God!
Isaiah continues in chapters 11 and 12 with prophetic words that will be fulfilled in his time AND in the times in which WE live! Chapter 12 should be very familiar to many of you, especially verse 2!
2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.
We sang that chorus often in the early days of our church! I couldn't find a video of that one, but here is Hillsong United with "You Are My Strength":
Shalom in Him!
