The Price of a Life - Psalm 49

    Recently I was reading a novel called The Known World by Edward P. Jones.  The main character is Henry Townsend who was born into slavery and bought out of slavery by his father.  However, when Henry grows up, he himself  owns over 30 slaves.  It is a very disturbing book.
  What reminded me of it was Psalm 49:7-9 - "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him -- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough -- that he should live on forever and not see decay."  How much is a life worth in monetary terms?  Yes, prices were determined for slaves dependent upon sex, age and health because they were seen as a commodity based upon their projected value in labor.  Life insurance policies put a value on a person's life too.  But how much is the life of a child (who has no labor value) worth to a parent?  For all the parents who have lost a child to school violence in our country, what would they give to have their children back? 
  I have asked you before, now I invite you again, to pray for those people in our society who may be prone to violence either to themselves or to others.  (I heard this week that a suicide occurs about every 15 minutes in the U.S.)  You will find a suggested prayer on this website under Prayer Resources. 
   "The ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough."

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