Bible Commentaries
Psalms 50

Verses 1-23

Psalms 50

God Is the Final (Supreme) Judge

Scripture v. 1-23:

Verses 1, 2 declare that the mighty God (God of dynamic power) has spoken and called or directed the earth, controlled it, from the rising to the going down of the sun. He has shined forth His beauty, in perfection, out of, and projected from Zion, His dwelling place, as described Genesis 17:1; Joshua 22:28; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalms 145:6; Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 10:6; Jeremiah 32:18-19; See also Psalms 68:24; Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 26:21; Hosea 5:15; Habakkuk 2:20; Hebrews 12:22.

Verses 3-5 describe the second coming of Christ in power and great glory to judge the earth, with a devouring fiery flame, round about him, Leviticus 10:1; Numbers 16:25; Daniel 7:20. It is declared that He will call upon the heavens and the earth to obey Him, from above and below, that He may judge His people in harmony with His word, and not keep silent, Hebrews 9:28; Micah 6:1-2; Deuteronomy 4:36; Deuteronomy 30:19; Deuteronomy 31:28; To the host (angels) of heaven He calls "gather my saints together to me and adds "those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice," Deuteronomy 33:3; Psalms 97:10; Isaiah 13:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10. See also Exodus 24:7; Isaiah 59:20-21; Matthew 21:28; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:10; Hebrews 9:23; Hebrews 13:20.

Verse 6 asserts that the heavens will declare His righteousness in His judgment and reign; For God is Himself judge, and there is none other, "Selah, or consider it wisely. The saints shall declare His glory, plus all them who have believed, 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 5:9-10; Revelation 19:7-9; Revelation 11:15-17; Psalms 97:6.

Verse 7 calls on Israel to give heed as He, the Lord, witnesses against them their wrong, and that He is yet their living God, Exodus 20:2. He will keep silence no longer, Deuteronomy 31:26; Deuteronomy 31:28; Nehemiah 9:29; Tho they have wandered far from Him.

Verses 8, 9 pledge that he will not reprove Israel for her sacrifices, or her burnt offerings, which she had offered, but in a wrong spirit of "duty" and "formalism," rather than in faith and love; He `hen adds he will take no bull out of their house, nor an he-goat from their folds, Isaiah 43:23-24; Micah 6:6; Acts 17:23.

Verses 10-12 relate, God’s claim of ownership of 1) every beast of the forest; 2) the cattle on a thousand hills, and knowledge of 3) all the fowls of the mountains, and 4) the wild beasts of the fields; all are His; He knows them in His omniscience and keeps them by His omnipotent power, keeping them at His disposal; Verse 12 adds "If I were hungry, I would not tell or bother you about it:" For the world is mine, and the fullness thereof as also declared Psalms 24:1; Exodus 19:5; Deuteronomy 10:14; Job 41:11; 1 Corinthians 10:26.

Verses 13-15 Inquires’ "will I eat (feast on) the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?" I will not, will I? Is the idea, John 4:24; Luke 24:39­-43. Verses 14, 15 appeal to Israel to obey her own law, in the spirit of it, not only "offer unto God thanksgiving (with gratitude), Hosea 14:2; Hebrews 13:15, and pay thy vows unto the most High," to the living, reigning God, and "call upon me in the day (time) of trouble (try me) and I will deliver you or set you free, and thou shalt (thus) glorify me," Job 22:27; Zechariah 13:9; Psalms 22:23; Matthew 5:16; John 15:8; Psalms 91:5; Psalms 107:6-13.

Verses 16, 17 relates that He scolds those who in wickedness declare His statutes, taking His covenant in their mouths, yet despair­ing, taking lightly its instructions, hypocritically casting His words be­hind them, turning their back on walking in His ways, a grave offense, Nehemiah 9:26. They, as hypocrites, use His word only for their covetous profit, Exodus 23:13; Isaiah 1:15; Romans 2:18-24. So shall it be toward our Lord in the last days, 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Verses 18-20 Indict the hypocrites for seeing a thief and enter­ing collusion with him, or of taking a bribe to keep quiet; and they had part in deeds of adulteries in silence, without protest, Romans 1:32; Hosea 7:3. They gave their mouth to slander their own brother, in regard to compromise with evil; Their tongue framed deceit and lying, in breach of the Law, Exodus 20:7-9.

Verse 21, 22 Indict them of these things, while the Lord kept silent, delaying His judgment, Ecclesiastes 8:11-12. They had presumed that as they had done, looked the other way, so would God, Romans 2:4-8. But God warned, "I will reprove you and set these things in judgment before your eyes," He added, "Now consider (give heed) to this, you who forget or turn away from God," Psalms 55:19; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Verse 23 concludes that the one who offers praise glorifies God, adding that it is, "him that ordaineth his conversation or course of conduct aright." To such God pledges to show forth or demonstrate His salvation on their behalf, 1 Corinthians 10:31; Hebrews 13:15; Hosea 14:2; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9; 2 Timothy 4:7-8.