Psalms 50:14

_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. OFFER UNTO GOD THANKSGIVING - literally, 'praise' or 'confession' of all that God is in himself, and is to us. Praise is mentioned as one species of inward worship performed by the heart, and as a specimen of all such worship, as contrasted with external worship not so accompanied. AND PAY THY VOWS UNTO THE MOST HIGH - not only by "thanksgiving," but in all other ways of loving obedience of heart and life, render to God all that thou hast bound thyself to as His servant and His child ...

These verses cast light upon the preceding context. Had it been stated in unqualified terms that sacrifices were of no value, we might have been perplexed to know why in that case they were instituted by God; but the difficulty disappears when we perceive that they are spoken of only in comparison with the true worship of God. From this we infer, that when properly observed, they were far from incurring divine condemnation. There is in all men by nature a strong and ineffaceable conviction that they ought to worship God. Indisposed to worship him in a pure and spiritual manner, it becomes necessary that they should invent some specious appearance as a substitute; and however clearly they may be persuaded of the vanity of such conduct, they persist in it to the last, because they shrink from a total renunciation of the service of God. Men have always, accordingly, been found addicted to c...

7-15 To obey is better than sacrifice, and to love God and our neighbour better than all burnt-offerings. We are here warned not to rest in these performances. And let us beware of resting in any form. God demands the heart, and how can human inventions please him, when repentance, faith, and holiness are neglected? In the day of distress we must apply to the Lord by fervent prayer. Our troubles, though we see them coming from God's hand, must drive us to him, not drive us from him. We must acknowledge him in all our ways, depend upon his wisdom, power, and goodness, and refer ourselves wholly to him, and so give him glory. Thus must we keep up communion with God; meeting him with prayers under trials, and with praises in deliverances. A believing supplicant shall not only be graciously answered as to his petition, and so have cause for praising God, but shall also have grace to praise h...

Verse Psalms 50:14. _OFFER UNTO GOD THANKSGIVING; AND PAY THY VOWS UNTO THE_ _MOST HIGH_] זבח _zebach_, "sacrifice unto God, אלהים _Elohim_, the תודה _todah, thank-offering_," which was the same as the _sin-offering_, viz. _a bullock, or a ram, without blemish_; only there were, in addition, "unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil; and cakes of fine flour mingled with oil and fried," Leviticus 7:12. _AND PAY THY VOWS_] נדריך _nedareycha_, "thy vow-offering, to the Most High." The _neder_ or _vow-offering_ was _a male without blemish,_ _taken from among the beeves, the sheep, or the goats_. Compare...

OFFER UNTO GOD THANKSGIVING - The word rendered “offer” in this place - זבח _zâbach_ - means properly “sacrifice.” So it is rendered by the Septuagint, θῦσον _thuson_ - and by the Vulgate, _“immola.”_ The word is used, doubtless, with design - to show what was the “kind” of sacrifice with which God would be pleased, and which he would approve. It was not the mere “sacrifice” of animals, as they commonly understood the term; it was not the mere presentation of the bodies and the blood of slain beasts; it was an offering which proceeded from the heart, and which was expressive of gratitude and praise. This is not to be understood as implying that God did not require or approve of the offering of bloody sacrifices, but as implying that a higher sacrifice was necessary; that these would be vain and worthless unless they were accompanied with the offer

EXPOSITION THE psalmist announces an appearance of God to his people "out of Zion," and a pronouncement of judgment upon them, which all heaven (Psalms 50:4) and earth (Psalms 50:1) are called upon to witness. The judgment takes the shape of a twofold address; first, to the righteous, who are exhorted to the spiritual worship of God (Psalms 50:14, Psalms 50:15), and warned against putting too much trust in sacrifice (Psalms 50:8); secondly, to the wicked, who are sternly reproved for their hypocrisy, their hatred of instruction

OFFER UNTO GOD THANKSGIVING,.... Which is a sacrifice, Psalms 50:23; and the Jews say x, that all sacrifices will cease in future time, the times of the Messiah, but the sacrifice of praise; and this should be offered up for all mercies, temporal and spiritual; and unto God, because they all come from him; and because such sacrifices are well pleasing to him, and are no other than our reasonable service, and agreeably to his will; and then are they offered up aright when they are offered up through Christ, the great High Priest, by whom they are acceptable unto God, and upon him the altar, which sanctifies every gift, and by faith in him, without which it is impossible to please God. Some render the word "confession" y; and in all thanksgivings it is necessary that men should confess their sins and unworthiness, and acknowledge the goodness of God, and ascribe all the glory to h

Psalms 50:1. _The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun until the going down thereof. Out of Zion the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people._ To profess to be the people of God is a very solemn thing, for the apostle Peter tells us that «judgment must begin at the house of God.» Those who profess to be his people shall be like the wheat on the threshing floor. John the Baptist, preparing the way for the first coming of Christ, said of him, «whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor.» When he comes again, he will separate the precious from the vile, the true saint from the mere pretender....

Psalms 50 The Demands of a Righteous God _ 1. His coming and His call (Psalms 50:1)_ 2. The God of Israel speaks (Psalms 50:7) 3. The demands of righteousness (Psalms 50:16) Psalms 50:1; Psalms 51:1 belong together. In the first God is described coming to Israel, proclaiming His righteousness and demanding righteousness from His people and in the second Israel makes confession of sin....

L. GOD LOOKS TO CONDUCT RATHER THAN TO SACRIFICE. For the attitude to sacrifice, _cf._ Psalms 40*. PSALMS 50:1. The expected Theophany. PSALMS 50:1. Read _mg._ with LXX. CALLED THE EARTH: since the calling occurs in Psalms 50:4, which is a more appropriate place, read the earth feared. Psalms 50:5. The LXX reads Gather his saints together unto him, those that have made his covenant with him by sacrifice. The last words refer to Exodus 24:5 ff. For saints-' (_hasî dî m),_ see on Psalms 4....