Psalms 50

The Prophet introduceth God, as coming with great Majesty to judge his people in a solemn manner: strongly testifying, wherein the true and God-pleasing worship consisteth, together with a mighty convincing of the Atheistical-hypocrites and Covenant-breakers, threatening them with everlasting destruction, if they reformed not themselves, and promising salvation to those that served and worship God aright.

1. A Psalm of Asaph [Or for Asaph, i.e. put into he hands of him or his posterity, for the use of the Church of God: as Jacob and Israel are frequently taken for the Israelites, or the posterity of Jacob, and Aaron for Aarons posterity, 1 Chron.12.27. so by Asaph was chief song-master, or chief Musician, and withal a seer or prophet. See 1 Chron.25.v.1. &c. And 2 Chron.29.v.30.] The God of Gods, the LORD speaketh, [See Deut.10.on v.17. and Psa.82.1. Some do understand it, that there is three distinct names of God here joined together. El, Elohohim, Jehova. Compare Jos,22.22.] and calleth the Earth; [i.e. the inhabitants of the Earth] from the rising of the Sun, unto the going down thereof.

2. Out of Zion, the perfection of Beauty, [i.e. which is perfectly beautiful in regard of the pure worship of God, the holy assemblies, the Ark of the Covenant, &c. And all the typified spiritual matters. Compare Psa.48.3. Lam.2.15. 1 Pet.1.10,11,12.] God appeareth shining. [or hath God appeared, &c. Compare Deut.33.3. some take it thus, God hath made the perfection of beauty to shine forth out of Zion.]

3. Our God shall come [Compare Rev.22.on v.20. and shall not be silent: [or be still. See Judg.18.on v.9.] a fire before his face [Compare Deu.4.24. 2 Samu.22.9. and Psa.18.9.] shall consume; and round about him, it shall be very tempestuous.

4. He shall call to the heaven above, and to the earth [Taking them as witnesses. See Deut.4.on v.26.] for to judge his people.

5. Gather me my Favourites [Compare Mat.24.31. These are the words of God, whereby he is introduced as by his Messengers inviting and summoning his people (who in generation are called his favourites (or gracious ones) to pronounce his doom upon their worship of God] which make my covenant with offering [that is to say; which do offer, thereby to seal the covenant, that is between me and them, and to shew that they are my faithful allies by covenant. Of the Ceremonies, that were usual in making of Covenants, see Gen.15.on v.17.18. and an example of a covenant-making between God and his people by offering sacrifices, Exod.24.4,5,6,7,8. All this had a regard to the bloud of the new Testament, and the Mediator of the same, our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom alone the covenant of God is established with all his true Favorites, Heb.7.8.9,10.]

6. And the heavens publish his righteousness [These are the words of the Prophet again, which he inserteth here, before he proceeds in the relation of Gods own words to his people, thereby to shew the justice of Gods doom or judgement, whereof all Creatures must bear witness, specially the celestial hostes of the blessed Angels, who do assist and honour him in the execution thereof, together with his saints, of whom it is said that they shall judge the world, Mat.19.28. 1 Cor.6.2. Compare Dan.7.10. Mat.25.31.] for God himself if judge, Sela, [see Psa.3.3.]

7. Hear my people, and I will speak: Israel and I will testify among thee, [I will earnestly declare and remonstrate unto you the true contents and requisites of my covenant, that I have made with you, or I will testify against thee, i.e. seriously convince thee, that thou dost Psalm, partly exciting and stirring up the Godly, and partly convincing the wicked hypocrites, and severely threatening them, as Covenant-breakers] I God, am thy God [Or I (am) God, thy God. See Gen.17.on v.7. This is the sum of the covenant of Gods part, of the peoples duty God speaketh in the sequel.]

8. I will not punish thee for thine offerings, [viz. In what concerns the outward performance only. Ye are continually busied with offering, there is no want of that, would the Lord say to them; but the spiritual and principal is missing, as followeth. Some do understand it further of the abrogation of the ceremonies of the old Testament, and instituting of the spiritual worship in the new Testament] for your burnt-offerings are still before me.

9. I will take no bullock out of thine house (nor) goats out of thy fold.

10. For all the beast of the wood is mine: the cattle upon thousand hills, [Heb. Mountains of a thousand; which some do render, on mountains by thousands understanding that of beasts or cattle feeding there.]

11. I know all the fowl of the hills, and the Savage (beasts) are by me. [Or at, with me, i.e. they are in my power, ready for me: or it belongeth all to me, I can have it when I please, it is all at my service and disposal insomuch that you do strangely erre, to think to pay me only with your outward sacrifices, or to perform my covenant, by such outward performances.]

12. If I were hungry, I should not tell it thee: for mine is the world and the fullness thereof. [i.e. whatsoever there is in it, wherewith it is filled and beautified by me, as Psa.24.1. and 89.12.]

13. Should I eat the flesh of steers [Of the Hebrew word see Psa.22.on v.13.] or drink goats blood.

14. Offer God thanks: [Or praise, of the ceremonial praise offering, See Lev.7.12. but here is spoken of the spiritual offerings which Gods covenanted people are bound to perform unto God. Compare Heb.13.15.] and pay unto the most high thy vows.

15. And call upon me in the day of distress: I will help thee out, and thou shalt honour me.

16. But to the wicked saith God: what hast thou to relate my institutions? And takest my Covenant into thy mouth?

17. Because thou hatest the correction [Or, chastisement, discipline, reproof, in works serving to instruct and reform a sinner. The Hebrew word doth properly signify, a binding, a tie, coering, and is thence taken for discipline and chastisement, being the way of life and wisdom, Prov.6.23. and 12.1.] and dost cast my words away behind thee. [as men use to do when they slight a thing, and do not value it at all, which they doth not daign their looking on. Comp.1. King.14.on verse 9.]

18. If thou see a thief, thou runnest with him: [Or, thou assentest to, takest pleasure in him. The meaning is; Thou art presently hot and ready to agree and consent to his evil doing, and to join heart, tongue and practise with him. The Hebrew word seems to participate of both significations, to run and to take pleasure therein,] and thy portion is with the adulterers. [Comp. Prov.29.24. whereupon followeth, that such partake likewise of the same punishment with them. See Job 20:29. with the annot.]

19. Thy mouth thou applies unto evil: [Heb. Properly sendest, i.e. thou usest, applieth, imployest the same to and in evil things] and thy tongue couplet [or forget together] deceit.

20. Thou sittest, thou speakest against thy brother, [To his hurt and prejudice] against the son of thy mother [See Deut.13.on verse 6.] Doest thou give out slander.

21. These things thou doest, and I am silent: [Or, quite, still, not straightway punishing thee, but vouchsasing and affording thee time for repentance, according to my long-suffering, which yet thou dost but abuse, comp.Rom.2.4.5.] thou conceives that I am altogether, [Hebr. That being I am, or, shall be.] like thy self I shall punish thee, and shall set it orderly before thine eyes. [I shall take a strict account of thy, and set all thy covenant-breaking a row as it were and in order before thee, and make thee smart for every one of them.]

22. Understand this yet ye forgetters of God: that I tear you not, [Like a Lion or some other wild beast. See of the Hebrew word in this signification, Gen.31.39. and 37.33. Exod.22 13.others, ravish, snatch-pluck-away, viz. For to tear in pieces] and none deliver.

23. Who so offereth thanks, he shall honour me: and who so disposeth (well his) way, [That is, his life, his course and conversation, or, makes a custom of it, to wit, to give God praise and thanks] him shall I make to see, [that is, to enjoy, partake of, as Psalms 4:7. and elsewhere frequently. See Job 7.on ver.7.] the salvation of God.