50:1ffGod judges people for treating him lightly. First, he speaks to the superficially religious people who bring their sacrifices but are only going through the motions (50:1-15). They do not honor God with true praise and thankfulness. Second, he chides wicked, hard-hearted people for their evil words and immoral lives (50:16-22). He asks the superficially religious for genuine thanksgiving and trust, and he warns the evil people to consider their deeds, lest he destroy them in his anger.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 50
Psalm 50
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 896, 897
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
50Psalm 50
1A psalm of Asaph.The LORD, the Mighty One, is God,and he has spoken;he has summoned all humanityfrom where the sun rises to where it sets.
2From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,God shines in glorious radiance.
3Our God approaches,and he is not silent.Fire devours everything in his way,and a great storm rages around him.
4He calls on the heavens above and earth belowto witness the judgment of his people.
5“Bring my faithful people to me—those who made a covenant with me by giving sacrifices.”
6Then let the heavens proclaim his justice,for God himself will be the judge."
7“O my people, listen as I speak.Here are my charges against you, O Israel:I am God, your God!
8Thave no complaint about your sacrificesor the burnt offerings you constantly offer.
9But I do not need the bulls from your barnsor the goats from your pens.
10For all the animals of the forest are mine,and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
11[know every bird on the mountains,and all the animals of the field are mine.
12If [were hungry, I would not tell you,for all the world is mine and everything in it.
13Do I eat the meat of bulls?Do I drink the blood of goats?
14Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,and keep the vows you made to the Most High.4S Then call on me when you are in trouble,and I will rescue you,and you wil! give me glory.”
16But God says to the wicked:“Why bother reciting my decreesand pretending to obey my covenant?
17For you refuse my disciplineand treat my words like trash.
18When you see thieves, you approve of them,and you spend your time with adulterers.18 Your mouth is filled with wickedness,and your tongue is full of lies.
20You sit around and slander your brother—your own mother’s son.
21While you did all this, I remained silent,and you thought I didn’t care.But now I will rebuke you,listing all my charges against you.
22Repent, all of you who forget me,or I will tear you apart,and no one will help you.
23But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.If you keep to my path,I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”Theme: David's plea for mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing. God wants our heartsto be right with him.
Author: David
51
Life Application Notes 5 notes
50:1-4Asaph begins his psalm by describing God's final judgment of people on earth. Surprisingly, we read that God’s great fury is leveled against his own people (or at least those who claim to be his). God’s judgment must first begin with his own children (1 Peter 4:17).
50:5-9God's perfect moral nature demands that the penalty for sin be death; however, people could offer an animal to God as a substitute for their own lives, symbolizing their faith in the merciful, forgiving God. But the people were offering sacrifices and forgetting their significance! The very act of sacrifice showed that they had once agreed to follow God wholeheartedly. But at this time their hearts were not in it. We may fall into the same pattern when we participate in religious activities, tithe, or attend church out of habit or conformity rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience. God wants righteousness, not empty ritual. (See the note on 40:6.)
50:16-22Some people glibly recite God’s laws but are filled with deceit and evil. They claim his promises but refuse to obey him. This is sin, and God will judge people for it. We, too, are hypocrites when we are not what we claim to be. To let this inconsistency remain shows that we are not true followers of God.
50:21Just because God is silent does not mean he is condoning sin or is indifferent to it. Instead, he is withholding deserved punishment, giving time for people to repent (2 Peter 3:9). God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and wants them to turn from evil (Ezekiel 33:11). But his silence does not last forever-—a time of punishment will surely come.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 897
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Study feature · page 897
David's words also demonstrate the place of hope within confession. Use this psalm as a starting point when dealing with a sense of distance or with guilt that is affecting your relationship with God. It will help you identify and rectify sin in your life through confession and repentance.