The title of this message reflects the perspective of the Word of God on the human claim to power and influence. One author said of this Psalm: “Men of spiritual understanding without worldly honor are higher than the angels of God in heaven – men of worldly honor without the true wisdom are worse than the beasts that perish.” Futile, foolish, and presumptuous are the ambitions of fallen men who feel emboldened to defy the Lord of glory. They are paper tigers... We ought to fear them no more than God Himself is concerned that they will elbow Him off the throne of history. Psalm 49 sets the record straight and rallies the people of God with a Holy Spirit inspired pep talk. The literary style of this song is in the vein of Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and other wisdom literature. This distinctive genre explains its straight forward structure. Note: the gospel shining like a jewel in this setting of wisdom as the author surprises his hearers with a prophetic glimpse of eternal ransom.