Psalms 50:17-23

17 You refuse to let me correct you; you reject my commands.
18 You become the friend of every thief you see, and you associate with adulterers.
19 "You are always ready to speak evil; you never hesitate to tell lies.
20 You are ready to accuse your own relatives and to find fault with them.
21 You have done all this, and I have said nothing, so you thought that I am like you. But now I reprimand you and make the matter plain to you.
22 "Listen to this, you that ignore me, or I will destroy you, and there will be no one to save you.
23 Giving thanks is the sacrifice that honors me, and I will surely save all who obey me."

Psalms 50:17-23 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.

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.