Daily Devotions
Psalms
Psalm 62:9a "Men of low degree... men of high degree..."
Day 236 – Psalm 62
“Men of low degree… men of high degree…” Psalm 62:9a
SOCIAL STATUS
Even in the days of King David, people were aware of social status. Many sought to rise higher in social ranking.
“Surely men of low degree are a vapour,
Men of high degree are a lie;
If they are weighed on the scales,
They are altogether lighter than vapour.”
Psalm 62:9
1. Two levels mentioned
a) Men of low degree
b) Men of high degree
2. Assessment of men of low degree
a) They are but “a vapour”.
b) Life ends all too soon; life is compared to vapour
c) Men of low degree are not people who desire to earn respect from their fellow-men.
d) They foolishly choose to remain “men of low degree”.
3. Assessment of men of high degree
a) These are perhaps born to privilege (nobility, wealth, position etc).
b) But many high-born people are nothing but a lie (“sham”).
c) They do not earn respect from too many people either (often because of their wicked bullying ways).
4. If they are weighed on scales
a) Divine scales are in mind here.
b) All will be ultimately weighed by God on divine scales.
5. They are altogether lighter than vapour
God’s measurement of a person is different from the world! If men do not seek to live righteously and significantly, they would be poorly esteemed by God. They would be considered “lightweight”. Indeed, lighter than vapour!