To the chief Musician,
A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
This psalm is a mirror calculated to exhibit the emptiness of all worldly enjoyments. Observe, (1.) David’s earnest attempt to awaken all ranks of mankind to a serious consideration of this matter, as a point of great importance and universal concern, ver. 1-4. (2.) His irrefragable proofs of the vanity of earthly enjoyments viz., that they cannot save from death either a man’s self or his friend; and that they cannot make men wise or happy in this world, and far less render them happy in the future state, ver. 6-14. (3.) His attempt to comfort himself and other saints, under the sense of their daily infirmities, and of the chastisements received on account of their sins; and against the slavish fears of death, and temptations arising from the prosperity of the wicked, ver. 5, 15-18.
While I sing, let me bewail my sinful minding of, and idolatrous attachment to earthly things. Let me be henceforth as a weaned child, setting my affections on things above, where Christ is at the right hand of God. Let no uncertain riches or honours, but the living God, be the object of all my trust and joy.