Psalms 50:14-23

14 Spread for me a banquet of praise, serve High God a feast of kept promises,
15 And call for help when you're in trouble - I'll help you, and you'll honor me."
16 Next, God calls up the wicked: "What are you up to, quoting my laws, talking like we are good friends?
17 You never answer the door when I call; you treat my words like garbage.
18 If you find a thief, you make him your buddy; adulterers are your friends of choice.
19 Your mouth drools filth; lying is a serious art form with you.
20 You stab your own brother in the back, rip off your little sister.
21 I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I'm calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight.
22 "Time's up for playing fast and loose with me. I'm ready to pass sentence, and there's no help in sight!
23 It's the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I'll show you my salvation."

Psalms 50:14-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 50

\\<>\\. This psalm is called a psalm of Asaph; either because it was composed by him under divine inspiration, since he was a prophet and a seer, 1Ch 25:2, 2Ch 29:30; or because it was delivered to him to be sung in public service, he being a chief musician; see 1Ch 16:7; and so it may be rendered, "a psalm for Asaph"; or "unto Asaph" {o}; which was directed, sent, and delivered to him, and might be written by David; and, as Junius thinks, after the angel had appeared to him, and he was directed where he should build an altar to the Lord, 1Ch 21:18. The Targum, Kimchi, and R. Obadiah Gaon, interpret this psalm of the day of judgment; and Jarchi takes it to be a prophecy of the future redemption by their expected Messiah; and indeed it does refer to the times of the Gospel dispensation; for it treats of the calling of the Gentiles, of the abrogation of legal sacrifices, and of the controversy the Lord would have with the Jews for retaining them, and rejecting pure, spiritual, and evangelical worship. {o} Poal "ipsi Asaph", Tigurine version, Vatablus; "Asapho", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ainsworth.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.