PSALM 50. A psalm of Asaph.

Theme: The contrast between true and false faith. God deserves sincere thanks, trust, and praise.

Author: Asaph, one of David's chief musicians

https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/50.html

1 The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. 2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. 3 Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. 4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people: 5 “Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” 6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. 7 “Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. 8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. 9 I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, 10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. 12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, 15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” 16 But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. 18 When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. 19 You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. 20 You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. 21 When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. 22 “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you: 23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”

Study Notes:

50:1ff God 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, hardhearted people for their evik 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.

50:1-4 This psalm begins as though God is finally ready to judge the evil people on earth. But surprisingly, we read that God's great fury is leveled against his own people (or at least those that claim to be his). God's judgment must begin with his own people (1 Peter 4:17).

50:5-9 God's perfect moral nature demands that the penalty for sin be death; however, a person could offer an animal to God as a substitute for himself, symbolizing the person's 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.)

50:16-22 Some 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.

50:21 At times God seems silent. By his silence he is not condoning sin, nor is he 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.

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We are bombarded with mixed messages these days. It is hard and getting harder to discern what is "misinformation" and deception from what is true. I pray for guidance about that often nowadays. Seems like almost every minute. As the audit findings and news reports start to bombard us, we will need to share with each other how we discern. I use compare and contrast and deep consideration. I also seek God's wisdom through His Word and through prayer. Sometimes when it is just too confusing, I just let it sit and refocus to look for what God is working on. His work becomes evident when you start looking for it, and it often provides clues about what is true.

Thank you, Lord, that you are "the Way, the TRUTH, and the life.". Thank you that you are everlasting and immutable. Thank you for showing me how to put on my everlasting attitude, and how to think and consider things for myself while recognizing the influences of others. I love you, Lord. My faith and hope are in you. My trust is well placed in God. Thank you for being with the AZ Audit Patriots as they finish their work. Thank you for your work through others that are assisting rescues in Afghanistan. Thank you for your protection over all of them. In Jesus' holy name, I pray.

A song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EoCmCFmK4

Have a blessed and honest day.