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.
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.