Psalm 50
1The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset. 2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines out. 3Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him. 4He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5“Gather my saints together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6The heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah. 7“Hear, my people, and I will speak. Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. 8I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens. 10For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills. 11I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine. 12If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. 13Will I eat the meat of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. 15Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” 16But to the wicked God says, “What right do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips, 17since you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you? 18When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers. 19“You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit. 20You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son. 21You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes. 22“Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver. 23Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
Introduction
Psalms 50
This psalm, as the former, is a psalm of instruction, not of prayer or praise; it is a psalm of reproof and admonition, in singing which we are to teach and admonish one another. In the foregoing psalm, after a general demand of attention, God by his prophet deals (Psa 50:3) with the children of this world, to convince them of their sin and folly in setting their hearts upon the wealth of this world; in this psalm, after a like preface, he deals with those that were, in profession, the church's children, to convince them of their sin and folly in placing their religion in ritual services, while they neglected practical godliness; and this is as sure a way to ruin as the other. This psalm is intended, 1. As a proof to the carnal Jews, both those that rested in the external performances of their religion, and were remiss in the more excellent duties of prayer and praise, and those that expounded the law to others, but lived wicked lives themselves. 2. As a prediction of the abolishing of the ceremonial law, and of the introducing of a spiritual way of worship in and by the kingdom of the Messiah, Joh 4:23, Joh 4:24. 3. As a representation of the day of judgment, in which God will call men to an account concerning their observance of those things which they have thus been taught; men shall be judged "according to what is written in the books;" and therefore Christ is fitly represented speaking as a Judge, then when he speaks as a Lawgiver. Here is, I. The glorious appearance of the Prince that gives law and judgment (Psa 50:1-6). II. Instruction given to his worshippers, to turn their sacrifices into prayers (Psa 50:7-15). III. A rebuke to those that pretend to worship God, but live in disobedience to his commands (Psa 50:16-20), their doom read (Psa 50:21, Psa 50:22), and warning given to all to look to their conversation as well as to their devotions (Psa 50:23). These instructions and admonitions we must take to ourselves, and give to one another, in singing this psalm.
A psalm of Asaph.
Cross-references: Ps 50:3 · John 4:23 · John 4:24 · Ps 50:1 · Ps 50:7 · Ps 50:16 · Ps 50:21 · Ps 50:22 · Ps 50:23