1 > The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, And calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very tempestuous around him.
4 He 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."
6 The heavens shall declare his righteousness, For God himself is judge. Selah.
7 "Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
8 I don't rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I have no need for a bull from your stall, Nor male goats from your pens.
10 For every animal of the forest is mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, For the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16 But to the wicked God says, "What right do you have to declare my statutes, That you have taken my covenant on your lips,
17 Seeing you hate instruction, And throw my words behind you?
18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him, And have participated with adulterers.
19 "You give your mouth to evil. You harnesses your tongue for deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother's son.
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that the "I AM" 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 none to deliver.
23 Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, And prepares his way so that I will show God's salvation to him."
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 50
Commentary on Psalms 50 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 50
Ps 50:1-23. In the grandeur and solemnity of a divine judgment, God is introduced as instructing men in the nature of true worship, exposing hypocrisy, warning the wicked, and encouraging the pious.
1-4. The description of this majestic appearance of God resembles that of His giving the law (compare Ex 19:16; 20:18; De 32:1).
4. above—literally, "above" (Ge 1:7).
heavens … earth—For all creatures are witnesses (De 4:26; 30:19; Isa 1:2).
5. my saints—(Ps 4:3).
made—literally, "cut"
a covenant, &c.—alluding to the dividing of a victim of sacrifice, by which covenants were ratified, the parties passing between the divided portions (compare Ge 15:10, 18).
6. The inhabitants of heaven, who well know God's character, attest His righteousness as a judge.
7. I will testify—that is, for failure to worship aught.
thy God—and so, by covenant as well as creation, entitled to a pure worship.
8-15. However scrupulous in external worship, it was offered as if they conferred an obligation in giving God His own, and with a degrading view of Him as needing it [Ps 50:9-13]. Reproving them for such foolish and blasphemous notions, He teaches them to offer, or literally, "sacrifice," thanksgiving, and pay, or perform, their vows—that is, to bring, with the external symbolical service, the homage of the heart, and faith, penitence, and love. To this is added an invitation to seek, and a promise to afford, all needed help in trouble.
16-20. the wicked—that is, the formalists, as now exposed, and who lead vicious lives (compare Ro 2:21, 23). They are unworthy to use even the words of God's law. Their hypocrisy and vice are exposed by illustrations from sins against the seventh, eighth, and ninth commandments.
21, 22. God, no longer (even in appearance) disregarding such, exposes their sins and threatens a terrible punishment.
22. forget God—This denotes unmindfulness of His true character.
23. offereth praise—(Ps 50:14), so that the external worship is a true index of the heart.
ordereth … aright—acts in a straight, right manner, opposed to turning aside (Ps 25:5). In such, pure worship and a pure life evince their true piety, and they will enjoy God's presence and favor.