21 These things have you done, and I said nothing; it seemed to you that I was such a one as yourself; but I will make a protest against you, and put them in order before your eyes.
And of whom were you in fear, so that you were false, and did not keep me in mind, or give thought to it? Have I not been quiet, keeping myself secret, and so you were not in fear of me?
You have put our evil doings before you, our secret sins in the light of your face.
Or is it nothing to you that God had pity on you, waiting and putting up with you for so long, not seeing that in his pity God's desire is to give you a change of heart? But by your hard and unchanged heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of the revelation of God's judging in righteousness;
Because punishment for an evil work comes not quickly, the minds of the sons of men are fully given to doing evil. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life is long, I am certain that it will be well for those who go in fear of God and are in fear before him.
For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.
I have long been quiet, I have kept myself in and done nothing: now I will make sounds of pain like a woman in childbirth, breathing hard and quickly.
To all those who are dear to me, I give sharp words and punishment: then with all your heart have sorrow for your evil ways.
The Lord has taken an oath by the pride of Jacob, Truly I will ever keep in mind all their works.
God will be judge of every work, with every secret thing, good or evil.
And they say, Jah will not see it, the God of Jacob will not give thought to it. Give your mind to my words, you who are without wisdom among the people; you foolish men, when will you be wise? Has he by whom your ears were planted no hearing? or is he blind by whom your eyes were formed? He who is the judge of the nations, will he not give men the reward of their acts, even he who gives knowledge to man? The Lord has knowledge of the thoughts of man, for they are only a breath.
Our God will come, and will not keep quiet; with fire burning before him, and storm-winds round him.
And God said to him, I AM WHAT I AM: and he said, Say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.
See, the nations are to him like a drop hanging from a bucket, and like the small dust in the scales: he takes up the islands like small dust. And Lebanon is not enough to make a fire with, or all its cattle enough for a burned offering. All the nations are as nothing before him; even less than nothing, a thing of no value. Whom then is God like, in your opinion? or what will you put forward as a comparison with him?
<To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm.> God of my praise, let my prayer be answered; For the mouth of the sinner is open against me in deceit: his tongue has said false things against me. Words of hate are round about me; they have made war against me without cause.
And they say, How will the Lord see this? is there knowledge in the Most High?
I will not take up a cause against you because of your offerings, or because of your burned offerings, which are ever before me.
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.