Bible Commentaries
Psalms 50

Verse 1

50:1 [A Psalm of {a} Asaph.] The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the {b} earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.

(a) Who was either the author, or a chief singer, to whom it was committed.

(b) To plead against his deceitful people before heaven and earth.

Verse 2

50:2 Out of Zion, the {c} perfection of beauty, God hath shined.

(c) Because God had chosen it to have his Name there called on and also his image shines there in the doctrine of the law.

Verse 3

50:3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a {d} fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

(d) As when God gave his law in mount Sinai he appeared terrible with thunder and tempest, so will he appear terrible to take account for the keeping of it.

Verse 4

50:4 He shall call to the heavens from above, and to {e} the earth, that he may judge his people.

(e) As witnessing against the hypocrites.

Verse 5

50:5 Gather my {f} saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by {g} sacrifice.

(f) God in respect to his elect calls the whole body holy, saints and his people.

(g) Who should know that sacrifices are sealed by the covenant between God and his people, and not set religion in it.

Verse 8

50:8 I will not {h} reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, [to have been] continually before me.

(h) For I pass not for sacrifices unless the true use is there, which is to confirm your faith.

Verse 10

50:10 {i} For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.

(i) Though he delighted in sacrifice, yet he had no need for man’s help in it.

Verse 13

50:13 {k} Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?

(k) Though man’s life for the infirmity of it has need of food, yet God whose life quickens all the world, has no need of such means.

Verse 14

50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and {l} pay thy vows unto the most High:

(l) Show yourself mindful of God’s benefits by thanksgiving.

Verse 16

50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, {m} What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or [that] thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

(m) Why do you pretend to be of my people and talk of my covenant, seeing that you are a hypocrite?

Verse 17

50:17 Seeing thou hatest {n} instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

(n) To live according to my word.

Verse 18

50:18 When thou sawest a thief, then {o} thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.

(o) He shows what the fruits of them who contemn God’s word are.

Verse 20

50:20 Thou {p} sittest [and] speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.

(p) He notes the cruelty of hypocrites who in their talk or judgment do not spare their own mother’s sons.

Verse 21

50:21 These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and {q} set [them] in order before thine eyes.

(q) I will write all your wicked deeds in a roll, and make you read and acknowledge them, whether you will or not.

Verse 23

50:23 Whoso offereth {r} praise glorifieth me: and to him that {s} ordereth [his] conversation [aright] will I {t} shew the salvation of God.

(r) Under which is contained faith and invocation.

(s) As God has appointed.

(t) That is, declare myself to be his Saviour.