Psalms 50:1-10

1 <> The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks, And calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.

2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.

3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very tempestuous around him.

4 He calls to the heavens above, To the earth, that he may judge his people:

5 "Gather my saints together to me, Those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

6 The heavens shall declare his righteousness, For God himself is judge. Selah.

7 "Hear, my people, and I will speak; Israel, and I will testify against you. I am God, your God.

8 I don't rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.

9 I have no need for a bull from your stall, Nor male goats from your pens.

10 For every animal of the forest is mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.

Psalms 50:1-10 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.