Psalm 50

Psalm 50

CJB (emphasis mine)

Commentary by Bob Headrick

A psalm of Asaf:

The Mighty One, GOD, ADONAI, is speaking, summoning the world from east to west. Out of Tziyon, the perfection of beauty, GOD is shining forth. Our GOD is coming and not staying silent. With a fire devouring ahead of Him and a great storm raging around Him, He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, in order to judge His people. “Gather to Me My faithful, those who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” The heavens proclaim His righteousness, for GOD Himself is judge.      (Selah)

“Listen My people, I Am speaking; Isra’el, I Am testifying against you, I, GOD, your GOD. I

Am not rebuking you for your sacrifices; your burnt offerings are always before Me. I have no need for a bull from your farm or for male goats from your pens; for all forest creatures are Mine already, as are the animals on a thousand hills; I know all the birds in the mountains; whatever moves in the fields is Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is mine, and everything in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer thanksgiving as your sacrifice to GOD, pay your vows to the Most High, and call on Me when you are in trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

But to the wicked GOD says: “What right do you have to proclaim My Laws or take My Covenant on your lips, when you so hate to receive instruction and fling My Words behind you? When you see a thief, you join up with him, you throw in your lot with adulterers, you give your mouth free rein for evil and harness your tongue to deceit; you sit and speak against your kinsman, you slander your own mother’s son. When you do such things, should I stay silent? You may have thought I was just like you; but I will rebuke and indict you to your face. Consider this, you who forget GOD, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to save you.”

“Whoever offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors Me; and to him who goes the right way I will show the salvation of GOD.”

What a great prophetic Word GOD gave Asaf! GOD says to put away our made up gods because He is our GOD! (vs. 1-2 & 7 & 21-22)

The first six verses are about who GOD is and His coming judgment, this is a warning not just for the nation of Israel but it is for all who make covenant with Him. Israel’s covenant was based on the Law and animal sacrifices which called for obedience of the soul and the body. They were required to keep the Law and make animal sacrifices to cover their sins; they were required to pay tithes of everything and to keep their vows to Him and each other. Our covenant is though Christ’s sacrifice of obedience to GOD. We are called to keep Jesus’ commandments, to tithe, to stop sinning, to die to ourself, to love one another, and many more.            (Selah they were not able to, just like we would not be able to without Christ in our life.) But, we are filled with His Spirit (Holy Spirit) and, “…the life we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of GOD, who loves us and gave Himself for us.” (Galatians 2:20 my paraphrase) We are called to live and obey in spirit, soul and body. (John 4:23-24 & 1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

Verses 3-6 speak of His awesome presence and authority to judge. (Study Revelation 11-21)

Verses 7-15, emphasize that GOD was more interested in obedience than sacrifice because there is nothing we can give Him. Everything that exists He made, it is His and He does with it as He pleases. Since Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law and took the punishment for sin upon Himself by His sacrifice; there is only obedience left. That does not mean that obedience is not sacrificial, it certainly will be, just study the Words of Jesus in the gospels. Another misconception is that we do not have to keep or obey the Law – wrong! Jesus fulfilled the Law but He did not do away with the Law, He said that nothing of the Law would pass away but that heaven and earth would. Heaven and earth have not passed away so neither has the Law. He did do away with the religious requirements of obedience and called us to joyfully obey His commands. He paid the price now there is no longer an animal sacrifice to cover our sins, we only have to ask for forgiveness and live in repentance by the Blood (sacrifice) and Spirit of Christ (Savior). His eternal Blood washes away our sins and His Spirit teaches us how to live the new life we have in Jesus the Christ. There are no exceptions and there will be no excuses! We must stop sinning and live according to GOD’s will for our life.

In verses 16-22 GOD speaks directly to sinners in Israel; since Israel is the first Church (not a type or shadow) He also speaks to today’s believers in Christ. There is much sin in the Church and GOD is telling us that in His judgment there will be no one to deliver us if we are sinning. Those who interpret His word for their own benefit and those who teach false doctrines, those who are religious rather than in a relationship are sinning as much as the thief and adulterer. Asking for forgiveness of sins is only half the process of salvation, the first requirement is to believe in our heart that Jesus is the Son of GOD and Savior of the world, then to confess with our mouth that He is and that we believe in Him as Savior. Then the second part is to stop sinning and live our life fulfilling GOD’s call for us, the one He gave us in our mother’s womb.

Asaf closes with the LORD’s admonition that “Whoever offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors Me, and to those who live the right way, I will show My Gift of Salvation.” (Vs. 23 my paraphrase) Jesus told us that the way to GOD’s Kingdom is narrow and that few find it. Be one of the few, do not be distracted by the cares of life or the issues of the world, they do not lead to life. Only death to self and obedience to Christ lead to life and that is eternal life. Jesus said, “That eternal life is to know the One True GOD and Jesus Christ whom He sent.” (John 17:3 my paraphrase)