Psalm 50

1. This psalm is written as though we are hearing a report on what God has spoken. His words are intermingled throughout the thoughts of the poem.

2. God is called 3 things in verse 1 (“The Mighty One, God, the Lord”). The first two are common names for God in the Old Testament, but the third is the name (Yahweh) that sets God apart from all others in the Old Testament. This God is the One Who speaks throughout this psalm.

3. Verses 2-3 are an example of “theophany.” This is an expression of God’s appearance, which can only be described in amazing, usually natural, language.

4. Verse 5 shows how seriously God worship. Only those who have sacrificed (according to the Law of Moses) are in a covenant with the Lord.

5. How we need to preach the end of verse 6! “For God Himself is Judge.” We need to tell people the Truth, and let them know that God will judge, but that we know the standard–His Word!

6. Verse 7 shows God’s power, but also His love for His people: “I am God, your God.”

7. Verse 8 is not telling the people to stop their sacrifices. God is, instead, angry with the people because of their attitude as they offered these sacrifices to Him.

8. “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills…Everything that moves in the field is mine” (verses 10-11). Whenever we think we “own” something, we need to be reminded that all is God’s. When it comes to giving back to Him, let’s remember this concept.

9. Verses 12-13 show us God’s self-sufficiency. He is not in need of our worship. Yes, He commands us to worship, but He does not need it. There is nothing I could ever bring to God that He does not already have.

10. However, verse 14 reminds the people to sacrifice. Again, God demands our worship! And, if we do that, verse 15 promises God’s protecting hand.

11. Now the contrast begins. God begins to rebuke the wicked because of their arrogance. Verse 17 tells us that they hate discipline (presumably, divine discipline), and that they refuse to follow what God says.

12. Now notice the progression. Because they fail to listen to God, they are pleased with thieves (giving approval to sin) and are with those who are committing adultery (sinning themselves). When we fail to listen to God, we can expect to go down the same slope into deeper transgression. First we will just approve of the actions of others (sometimes even justifying those actions), then we will end up committing sin ourselves.

13. Verse 21 shows us how God acts. He allows us to sin. He does not approve our condone our sin, but He gives us the choice. And, it may seem for awhile as if God will not punish the sinner. In this verse, though, God promises to punish those who sin.

14. The final 2 verses offer a way out of that punishment, though. We deserve to be punished for our sins, but God still offers us a way out. What a great God we serve!