Practically every verse of this psalm is used by the Church in worship and included in prayer canons. It is difficult...
Practically every verse of this psalm is used by the Church in worship and included in prayer canons. It is difficult to choose the single most important thing in it, because just as no two days are the same, different words strike us each time. It is the quintessence of everything we try to say to God, to express in words or sighs. If we compare psalms of praise with this cry of grief torn from a person who realises all the consequences of what he has done, we see that praise uses few words. But grief finds a way to make itself heard; repentance and the impossibility of living in sin before the face of God, together with the thirst to see His gaze—all this compels us to find a path to God.
50 The design of this psalm is to reprove the common miscarriages of many professors of religion, who satisfied their own consciences, and fancied that they pleased God with their external and ceremonial performances, notwithstanding their neglect of piety, justice, and charity: and to instruct men concerning the nature of the true and acceptable worship of God. The glorious appearance of the great judge, Psa 50:1-6.
Instructions given how to worship him, Psa 50:7-15.
A reproof of those who pretend to worship him, while they disobey his commands, Psa 50:16-20.
Their doom read, and warning given to all, to order their conversation aright, Psa 50:21-23.
A psalm of Asaph.
Title of the psalm. Asaph - Who was not only the chief of the sacred singers, but also a prophet, Ch2 29:30, and a composer of several
psalms, Ch2 29:30.
50:16 But - With what confidence darest thou make mention of my grace and favour, in giving thee such a covenant and statutes.