This is a very sobering Psalm, one which we must take care in reading to understand. The Psalm enables to look into our lives to see the areas we have neglected and act to bring those areas into alignment with what God wants.  Here you get a glimpse of a coming time which we will all experience. No one will escape His courtroom: He is a just God!

 

God Convenes the Courtroom (Ps 50:1-6)

He summons all the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting and then He comes in all His splendour.  Notice the description of how He comes, the devouring fire goes before Him and storm rages around Him. God begins with His own people who are in a covenant relationship with Him. We must remember the Word which says judgment begins with God’s people.  “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).  We often think of judgment strictly against the ones who do not know Him, but God is righteous, and He will judge everyone.  

 

Judgments: Thoughts and Intentions (Ps 50:8-15)

God begins by telling his covenant people that they are not judged for their sacrifices. The burnt offerings remained before the Lord. But within the sacrifices, there was a false view the Lord wanted to correct. It seems the people believed that God needed them to perform these acts for Him.  He reminds them that man’s duty is to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. God does not need anything of ours; yet He considers us, reminding us of Psalm 8:4: “What is man that You are mindful of him…?” Let not what we do for the Lord be performing acts considered as something that God needs.  We need to worship God in all areas of our lives for our own sakes, as it causes us to repent and give thanks for deliverance that enables us to celebrate our fellowship with God. May we keep our thoughts and intentions pure so that we will be found worthy of His Grace. 

 

Hypocrisy (Ps 50:16-21)

Here the Lord is addressing the carnally minded people who believe they are in a covenant relationship with God since they recite the statutes of the Lord and His covenant with their lips. The hypocrisy was evident to the Lord as they hated instructions for they turn their backs on God’s words. We must examine ourselves to see that we do not fall into the same trap. We may have the law of God on our lips, but do we desire to be instructed by the Lord? This hypocrisy went further as they consented to the evil deeds of others and their mouths were full of deceit; slandering others. You need to take note that these actions were of those who are in a covenant relationship with God. This is also true today. Though we may not be involved in sexual sins or give consent to thieves, we often find ourselves falling into the trap of slandering others- God defines those who speak words against others as wicked. So let us keep our heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life.
 

Now turn to the warning in Ps 50:21-22. What a strong warning that God gives against people who thought themselves acceptable to God because of His silence!  God does not strike us with lightning when we err. God remains silent and watches our response. Let us not assume that what we deem to be acceptable is acceptable to God. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. So the call is to conduct our lives in God’s way, run the race, fix our eyes on the goal, not deviating from His way to receive the salvation of our souls.

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Think On:   “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honours me,

and to him who orders his ways aright I shall show

the salvation of God"- Psalm 50:23