1 [[A Psalm H4210 of Asaph.]] H623 The mighty H410 God, H430 even the LORD, H3068 hath spoken, H1696 and called H7121 the earth H776 from the rising H4217 of the sun H8121 unto the going down H3996 thereof.
2 Out of Zion, H6726 the perfection H4359 of beauty, H3308 God H430 hath shined. H3313
3 Our God H430 shall come, H935 and shall not keep silence: H2790 a fire H784 shall devour H398 before H6440 him, and it shall be very H3966 tempestuous H8175 round about H5439 him.
4 He shall call H7121 to the heavens H8064 from above, H5920 and to the earth, H776 that he may judge H1777 his people. H5971
5 Gather H622 my saints H2623 together unto me; those that have made H3772 a covenant H1285 with me by sacrifice. H2077
6 And the heavens H8064 shall declare H5046 his righteousness: H6664 for God H430 is judge H8199 himself. Selah. H5542
7 Hear, H8085 O my people, H5971 and I will speak; H1696 O Israel, H3478 and I will testify H5749 against thee: I am God, H430 even thy God. H430
8 I will not reprove H3198 thee for thy sacrifices H2077 or thy burnt offerings, H5930 to have been continually H8548 before me.
9 I will take H3947 no bullock H6499 out of thy house, H1004 nor he goats H6260 out of thy folds. H4356
10 For every beast H2416 of the forest H3293 is mine, and the cattle H929 upon a thousand H505 hills. H2042
11 I know H3045 all the fowls H5775 of the mountains: H2022 and the wild beasts H2123 of the field H7704 are mine. H5978
12 If I were hungry, H7456 I would not tell H559 thee: for the world H8398 is mine, and the fulness H4393 thereof.
13 Will I eat H398 the flesh H1320 of bulls, H47 or drink H8354 the blood H1818 of goats? H6260
14 Offer H2076 unto God H430 thanksgiving; H8426 and pay H7999 thy vows H5088 unto the most High: H5945
15 And call H7121 upon me in the day H3117 of trouble: H6869 I will deliver H2502 thee, and thou shalt glorify H3513 me.
16 But unto the wicked H7563 God H430 saith, H559 What hast thou to do to declare H5608 my statutes, H2706 or that thou shouldest take H5375 my covenant H1285 in thy mouth? H6310
17 Seeing thou hatest H8130 instruction, H4148 and castest H7993 my words H1697 behind H310 thee.
18 When thou sawest H7200 a thief, H1590 then thou consentedst H7521 with him, and hast been partaker H2506 with adulterers. H5003
19 Thou givest H7971 thy mouth H6310 to evil, H7451 and thy tongue H3956 frameth H6775 deceit. H4820
20 Thou sittest H3427 and speakest H1696 against thy brother; H251 thou H5414 slanderest H1848 thine own mother's H517 son. H1121
21 These things hast thou done, H6213 and I kept silence; H2790 thou thoughtest H1819 that I was altogether H1961 such an one as thyself: but I will reprove H3198 thee, and set them in order H6186 before thine eyes. H5869
22 Now consider H995 this, ye that forget H7911 God, H433 lest I tear you in pieces, H2963 and there be none to deliver. H5337
23 Whoso offereth H2076 praise H8426 glorifieth H3513 me: and to him that ordereth H7760 his conversation H1870 aright will I shew H7200 the salvation H3468 of God. H430
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.