Psalms 50:15

_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 ...

In the fifteenth verse we have first an injunction to prayer, then a promise of its being answered, and afterwards a call to thanksgiving. We are enjoined to pray _in the day of trouble, _but not with the understanding that we are to pray only then, for prayer is a duty incumbent upon us every day, and every moment of our lives. Be our situation ever so comfortable and exempt from disquietude, we must never cease to engage in the exercise of supplication, remembering that, if God should withdraw his favor for a moment, we would be undone. In affliction, however our faith is more severely tried, and there is a propriety in specifying it as the season of prayer; the prophet pointing us to God as the only resort and means of safety in the day of our urgent necessity. A promise is subjoined to animate us in the duty, disposed as we are to be overwhelmed by a sense of the majesty of God, or o...

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...

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. To do this shows where the heart is, as really as direct acts of praise and thanksgiving. The purpose of all that is said here is to show that true religion - the proper service of God - does not consist in the mere offering of sacrifice, but that it is of a spiritual nature, and that the offering of sacrifice is of no value unless it is accompanied by corresponding acts of spiritual religion, showing that the heart has a proper appreciation of the mercies of God, and that it truly confides in him. Such spirituality in religion is expressed by acts of praise Psalms 50:14; but it is also as clear

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

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. Invocation of God includes all parts of religious worship, and particularly designs prayer, as it does here, of which God, and he only, is the object; and which should be performed in faith, in sincerity, and with fervency; and though it should be made at all times, in private and in public, yet more especially should be attended to in a time of affliction, whether of soul or body, whether of a personal, family, or public kind, James 5:13; and the encouragement to it is, I WILL DELIVER THEE: that is, out of trouble: as he is able, so faithful is he that hath promised, and will do it. The obligation follows, AND THOU SHALL GLORIFY ME; by offering praise,...

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....

The trial begins. God is the accuser as well as the judge. Israel's sacrifices are unexceptionable, but it is not slain beasts which the Lord of all the earth desires, but the devotion of the heart, exhibited in thanksgiving and trust. The people as a whole are addressed. The duty which is enforced is their duty towards God, corresponding to the first Table of the Decalogue....