Psalms 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble,.... This is another part of spiritual sacrifice or worship, which is much more acceptable to God than legal sacrifices.

Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: -The true sacrifices, as contrasted with the false: the duty is stated in Psalms 50:14; the blessed result in Psalms 50:15. Verse 14.

And make conscience of that great duty of constant and fervent prayer to me; which is an acknowledgment of thy subjection to me, and of thy trust and dependence upon me, and therefore is pleasing to me. In the day of trouble; when trouble comes, do not avoid it by sinful shifts, not’ trust to creatures for relief, as hypocrites generally do, but give glory to me, by relying upon my promises, and expect help from me by hearty and unfeigned prayer. Thou shalt glorify me: this is mentioned, either, 1. As a privilege; thou shalt have occasion to praise and glorify me for thy deliverance. Or, 2. As a further duty; thou shalt give me the glory of thy deliverance by praising me for it, and improving it to my service and glory.

Psalms 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Ver. 15. And call upon me] These two, praising God for what we have, and praying for what we want, do take up the whole duty of man; a holy trade is hereby driven between heaven and earth, and sweet intercourse maintained between God and man. In the day of trouble] At any time, but then especially; the time of affliction being the time of supplication; for then we are fittest to call, and then God is readiest to give answer, then we may have anything, Zechariah 13:9. I will deliver thee] It is but ask and have; and surely he is deservedly miserable who will not make himself happy by asking. When there was a speech among some holy men what was the best trade? One answered, beggary; it is the hardest and richest trade (Dr Preston). Common beggary is indeed the easiest and poorest trade; but prayer he meant, it is like the ring given a nobleman in this land by Queen Elizabeth, with this promise, that if he sent that ring to her at any time when he was in distress she would remember and deliver him. He sent it, but it never came to her hands; but prayer never miscarrieth. And thou shall glorify me] Servati sumus, ut serviamus, Luke 1:74. And yet it is ten to one that any returneth, with the leper, to give God the glory of a deliverance. Plerique ut accipiant importuni, donec acceperint inquieti, ubi acceperint ingrati, saith Bernard truly: Most men are importunate that they may receive good at God’ s hands, restless till they have it, and are careless to return thanks afterward (De Consid. l. 4). Out upon such an ingratitude, hateful even among heathens.

(9-18) Notice the fine tone of irony that pervades this rebuke, the best weapon against ritualistic errors.

15. call upon me &c.] Prayer is the proof of trust. Cp. Psalms 20:1; yet note that that Psalm contains a reference to the acceptableness of material sacrifice (Psalms 50:3). The LXX. here inserts a Selah, which would appropriately mark the close of this division of the Ps. Cp. Psalms 50:6.

And call upon me in the day of trouble - This is a part of real religion as truly as praise is, Psalms 50:14. This is also the duty and the privilege of all the true worshippers of God.

15. Call upon me… I will deliver thee—Acting upon these instructions, and meeting the spirit and intent of the law, your prayers will be acceptable and will be answered.