Psalm 49:7

"None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him. (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever.)"—Psalm xlix. 7,8.

— Psalm 49:7

How very striking is the former of these verses! And Oh! how justly true! If it were possible for the rich worldling to keep back from the grave, by purchase, his worldly friend, would he do it? Yes,indeed, it is possible he might, under the presumption, that when it came to his turn, he should himself be redeemed. It is, however, of little consequence to estimate human friendship, when they are altogether helpless in the most important of all concerns. But, my soul, doth not this scripture point to him, and tend to endear him to thy warmest affections, who was indeed "a brother born for adversity;" and who, "though rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that through his poverty we might be made rich?" Jesus was, and is, the brother (mentioned in that scripture, Lev. xxv. 25.) who, when our whole nature was waxen poor, and we had sold our possession, and had no power to redeem it, came and proved his—relationship by ransoming our lost inheritance.

But mark, my soul, what is said in the latter of these verses; "the redemption of their soul is precious." Precious indeed! since none but Christ could redeem it; and he only by his blood; yea, not his blood only, but his soul. For it was expressly agreed upon, and so the tenor of the everlasting covenant ran when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin," (Isa. liii. 10.) then "he should see his seed." But remark yet further, that this latter verse is enclosed in parenthesis. I have often thought wherefore the Holy Ghost was pleased so to enclose it? Not surely, that, like other parenthesis, it might be read or left out; not so, I venture to believe. But rather, I should conceive, that hereby its total unconnection with what was said before of the rich worldling having no power to redeem his brother, the preciousness of Christ's redemption might be more strikingly conspicuous. And so it doth indeed. And how precious, blessed Jesus, was' and is, thy redemption! Not purchased with corruptible things, as of silver and gold, and therefore not liable to perish and become corruptible like them. And being so richly purchased, and so fully and completely bought with a full value, and infinitely more than value, even with the soul of Christ, it ceaseth for ever. It is impossible ever to need again redemption, for it is impossible ever more to be lost. Oh! precious salvation! Oh! precious, precious, Redeemer!