READ: Ps. 50:1-23: … Judge … offer thanksgiving … the right way …
God, the Almighty and faithful God of the covenant, appears impressively as a consuming fire in a lawsuit. In this lawsuit He calls His covenant people to account as Judge. Heaven and earth are called as witnesses..
While His people stand in His favor and the priests stand in His service regarding the bringing of sacrifices, the LORD gives His judgment about these sacrifices. He testifies against them as their God.
Is this an accusation that they bring no sacrifices? No, they indeed do so. But they do it with the thought that they themselves can satisfy the LORD by their animal sacrifices. As if He really needs those sacrifices and is dependent on His people. No, everything is at the LORD’s disposal, moreover He needs no food.
The LORD’s accusation is that their animal sacrifices are not accompanied by a thankful heart that reaches out to Him. It is an outward ritual in which true love and thankfulness are lacking. In their life they show no living thank offering (cf. Rom. 12:2). The LORD asks two things: “Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.”
Besides outward formal religion the LORD hates even more a deceitful hypocritical religion. Then sacrifices are offered but God’s commandments are trampled underfoot. The LORD even calls these members of His people wicked (vs.16). They are hypocritical and do not take Him into account. They take His covenant into their mouth by reading the law, but cast it carelessly away by consciously sinning against it.
The LORD mentions as examples transgressions such as stealing, lying, and slandering without these sins being confessed. They think they can get away with it, but the LORD will punish the perpetrators if they do not repent. Then they will perish.
The Lord Jesus also pointed to this: Matt. 7:21; 12:7; 23:16. Again the LORD points out that He wants to be honored, then they shall be delivered.
What do you learn from this Psalm for your life of faith?
Singing: Ps. 50:7,10,11