This psalm is a call to all the inhabitants of the world, in view of the subject matter of the preceding psalms.
In verse 5 "adversity" should be read instead of "evil," and "supplanters" (or "them who would trip me up") instead of "my heels." It is these adversaries that are meant in verse 6.
"They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches."
"Why should I fear in the days of adversity?" is a challenge which has a New Testament counterpart in the magnificent language of Romans 8:31-3931What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31‑39); there the Christian is assured that God is for him, and that nothing can separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Of what value is wealth in the redemption of the soul?
Verse 7 answers: "None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him, for (verse 8) the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up forever" (New Translation). Yet though so costly, salvation is free (Revelation 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17); Romans 5:1717For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) (Romans 5:17) and 6:23; John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16); 1 Peter 1:18-1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19)).
We shall not find the gospel of the grace of God set out plainly in the Old Testament, for its proclamation had to wait until Christ died for the ungodly, but from the beginning, faith laid hold upon the promise of a Deliverer, and knew that "without shedding of blood is no remission" of sin. (See verse 15 of our psalm).
A true picture of the natural man's thoughts is given in verses 11, 13, 18. Not all the centuries of time that have passed since these words were written, have altered man,—nor can, but a new birth (John 3) is needed; "Ye must be born again." Earthly, worldly hopes do not last; sorrow and death are never far away, and when the careless and godless are gone into judgment, those whose trust is in the living God shall have dominion (verse 14).
Verse17, in regard to the rich carrying none of their gains away with them when they die, suggests a reference to 1 Timothy 6:7,7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7)
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
Having Christ is possessing true riches, and He can never be taken from us. These are heavenly and not earthly riches.
Whatever we do that is pleasing to the Lord, is laying up treasure in heaven, to be given to us when we are with Him, and we shall have them throughout eternity.
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matt. 6:19-2119Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19‑21).
Verse 20 is a scathing reflection on man with all his gains, who does not know God; he is like the beasts that perish. No wonder many of the world's great men scorn the Bible, — its truth hurts. They are not rich toward God (Luke 12:2121So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:21)).