RR Psalm 49:1-5 Part 1

Shalom,

Psalm Psa 49:1 For the music director: a psalm of the sons of Korah. 2 Hear this, all you peoples. Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world, 3 both low and high, rich and poor together. 4 My mouth speaks wisdom, My heart’s meditation is understanding. 5 I will turn my ear to a proverb. I will utter my riddle on the harp:

In other words, “Hey everybody!  Listen to this.  What I’m about to speak is worth worthy of your attention.”  In Hebrew, “Cha’cha’mot” (plural of “Cha’cham”), wisdom.  Wisdom is about to be shared.  And what is wisdom?   I like my own definition.  Wisdom is the ability to use someone else’s experience to your own benefit.  Everything else is learning the hard way.

Rabbi Trail:  A student was given the opportunity on an exam to earn extra credit by answering a bonus question correctly.  The only problem was that he didn’t know the answer.  So he wrote simply, “God only knows,” and it was marked wrong.  The professor did say if the student had simply written, “God knows,” he would have been given credit for a correct answer, but “God only knows” was not correct.  The professor knew too.  End RT.

The point is that God has all knowledge.  His wisdom is our wisdom when we apply His ways to our lives, so we don’t have to make our own mistakes.  Seems rather empirical, doesn't it.  Note: I had to look up empirical to be sure I am using it correctly.  Something is empirical when it is self-evident or provable in itself.  It is the opposite of theoretical.  

What does God say about His own wisdom?  Let’s start by reframing a well known Scripture.  Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary (you’ve been living by your own wits, and it hasn’t been woking out too well) and burdened (you’re tired of suffering on account of making your own mistakes), and I will give you rest (apply My ways to your life, and I will give you shalom).  

(Note: Jacob became James to honor King James I who commissioned the King James Bible translation). Jacob 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him.  Jacob 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, not hypocritical. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in shalom by those who make shalom.  Now that’s wisdom! Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Tue10-Mar-2026 21st of Adar, 5786
Ex 37:17-29Isa 11-12Pr 9Ac 8(Rev 2)