²²“Now consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver. ²³He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”

The last two verses of this psalm capture the essence of the entire chapter. They contrast the warning to those who live hypocritical lives of sinfulness clothed in religious garb with the assurance for those who follow God’s ways in righteousness. While the psalm is written for those who lived during the OT era under the Law of Moses, the central truths apply to all time, even during our time of living under God’s grace.

This psalm is the first of twelve ascribed to Asaph (see also Psalms 73-83). He was the father of a guild of professional singers who led the musical part of Israel’s worship services at the temple. Asaph came into prominence when a collection of his songs was used along with David’s during the time of King Hezekiah’s reform (2 Chr. 29:30). His descendants (or a group of singers who took on his name for their guild) carried on this musical service during King Josiah’s reforms (2 Chr. 35:15). Much of Jewish theology was captured, taught and promulgated through song in this way—which is also true today and is why congregational singing is so vital for Christians.

This psalm reflects the central thrust of God’s judgment at the end times when He will separate (figuratively speaking) the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:31-46). As in the NT, God’s judgment is told ahead of time to warn all people of the severe consequences of sinful behavior and attitudes. And salvation has meaning only insofar as we understand what we are saved from, namely, God’s judgment.

The first six verses set the stage by acknowledging God as the righteous judge. God “summons” all the earth (vs. 1) and the heavens (vs. 4) to His divine judgment hall. As the supreme judge, He shines forth with the “perfection of beauty.” His ways are always flawless, and this is no less true for His judgment.

God separates out His own for judgment (vs. 5, 17-15), which we understand to be the Jews who lived righteously under the Law of Moses (Rom. 1:16, 2:9). Of course, they are not perfectly sinless, but they are the ones toward whom God speaks favorably. He assures them that the sacrifices He commanded them to make are acceptable to Him. But make no mistake, God doesn’t need their sacrifices for His benefit. After all, He says, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills (Ps 50:10). What He wants from His people is a heart of thanksgiving, which recognizes that all they have comes from Him. What God wants above all other sacrifices is the sacrifice of thanksgiving (vs. 14).

The promises in this section have encouraged the faithful through the centuries. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me” (Ps. 50:15). God has an infinite supply of resources that He can draw upon to help us in our times of need, for He owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (vs. 10). While this speaks immediately to an agrarian society, this tells us we can be assured that God’s resources are limitless, and therefore more than we need for any lack in our lives. He never runs out of what we need!

In verses 16-23, God warns the unrighteous of coming judgment. These people know about God and His commands but do not live by them. They may talk the talk, but God despises their arrogance: “But to the wicked God says, ‘What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth?’” (Ps 50:16). These are people who hate God’s discipline (as opposed to the righteous who accept God for His discipline). They applaud thievery (vs. 17) and enjoy the company of adulterers, those who repudiate their promises of fidelity and allow sexual impulses to control them. Deceit and slander characterize their distortion of truth in their communication with others.

The ironic charge against people like this is that they think God is just like them (vs. 21) and, therefore, won’t judge them for their attitudes and behaviors—that is the extent to which their self-deception and distortion of reality take them. In other words, they are convinced they are right and God is on their side. But He sees right through their narcissistic attitudes. They should take warning!

God’s final words are to the faithful: “And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God” (Ps. 50:23b).

Lord, thank You for all You have given me, especially for the salvation abundantly supplied to me.