Psalm 50
BSB
The Mighty One Calls
A Psalm of Asaph.
1The Mighty One, God the LORD,
speaks and summons the earth
from where the sun rises to where it sets.
2From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3Our God approaches and will not be silent!
Consuming fire precedes Him,
and a tempest rages around Him.
4He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that He may judge His people:
5“Gather to Me My saints,
who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
6And the heavens proclaim His righteousness,
for God Himself is Judge.
Selah
7“Hear, O My people, and I will speak,
O Israel, and I will testify against you:
I am God, your God.
8I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices,
and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.
9I have no need for a bull from your stall
or goats from your pens,
10for every beast of the forest is Mine—
the cattle on a thousand hills.
11I know every bird in the mountains,
and the creatures of the field are Mine.
12If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.
13Do I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
14Sacrifice a thank offering to God,
and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
15Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
16To the wicked, however, God says,
“What right have you to recite My statutes
and to bear My covenant on your lips?
17For you hate My instruction
and cast My words behind you.
18When you see a thief, you befriend him,
and throw in your lot with adulterers.
19You unleash your mouth for evil
and unharness your tongue for deceit.
20You sit and malign your brother;
you slander your own mother’s son.
21You have done these things, and I kept silent;
you thought I was just like you.
But now I rebuke you
and accuse you to your face.
22Now consider this, you who forget God,
lest I tear you to pieces,
with no one to rescue you:
23He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me,
and to him who rights his way,
I will show the salvation of God.”
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