Glorious God Judges All
Ps. 50
Jay Horsley
The Fiftieth Psalm is the first of the “Psalms of Asaph.” It is not in the collection of the Psalms of Asaph (Psalms 73-83), but it is grouped with other Psalms (44-50) that are noted for their exuberant praise to God.
He Who Summons
Our attention must be centered on the Great God of Heaven. He is the Mighty (Hebrew “El”) and God (Hebrew “Elohim”) and LORD (Hebrew “Jehovah”). This threefold naming of God is used nineteen times in the scriptures and is always done to draw special attention to the truly unique nature of who God is. Two examples suffice: “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...” (Deut. 5:9) “For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods.” (Ps. 95:3) It is He who sets the rising and setting of the sun and all that happens under it. He is the all powerful Being that comes in truly holiness to judge all mankind.
He Summons His People
God calls us before Him, with heaven and earth and all that is in them to witness. His angels gather His people while all heaven -- everything God created above and all the angelic majesty in it-- declares the righteousness of God. God is besmirched and disregarded by sinful man, but those closer to Him and those who aren't blinded by the folly of sin and pride declare Him. This mighty, knowing and holy One will judge us. There will be no underling or deputy who has our case delegated to them, we will face the “I Am that I Am” Himself.
“Selah” (at the end of verse 6) means “pause.” Pause to think that we will one day face God in judgment. Pause to think about Who is judging us. Pause and think this some more.
Israel Can Do Better
Judgment begins with those who “made a covenant” with God. Peter admonished, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” (1 Pet. 4:17-19) Yes, the wicked will be judged, but God's own people are first to receive instructions from the bar that they will one day stand before. “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” (Rom. 14:10)
Their worship is not reproved or rebuked, but they are told that there was more than that to do. In later times, when they preformed the sacrifices without meaning and offered the blind and the lame, God severely reproved them. (Isa. 1:10-15; Mal. 1:6-10) But even when done with the right spirit, was bringing animals all they really needed to do? Did God have fleshly needs that needed to be met like men thought pagan gods did? God already owed all the bulls, goats, beasts and birds of all creation. He could satisfy any of His own needs easily without them. No, God did not need the sacrifices nearly as much as they needed to offer them.
What was truly needed? Yes worship, but accompany it with honesty, faith and dependence upon God. This is same lesson that Saul learned the hard way. “And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Sam. 15:22,23) God's people should learn this lesson from an exhortation and not by rejection. “A wise man will hear and increase in learning.” (Prov. 1:5)
The Wicked On Borrowed Time
If the Israelites who went to worship had some work to yet do, the wicked are in need of a complete reformation.
The first condemnation is of the hypocrisy of the wicked. Verse 16 says that as they did evil, they still spoke of Him and His law. Many people are troubled by the hypocrisy of “religious” people. We need to learn that God does not approve of these people either. Why do we abhor religion because some hypocrites becomes associated with it? Shouldn't we rather abhor evil because its always tied to hypocrisy? Should what is right be discredited because some people give lip service to it while they engage in evil?
Their condemnation is just because, though they know of God's statutes, they hate what He said. So they like the thief, befriend the adulterer, speak evil and slander even brothers. How can you know God's law and still do these things? They did so because they had a misconception of God. They thought He would not say anything about the evil because “You thought that I was just like you.” (vs. 21) In our minds we impose our was and limitations onto God:
Sometimes we don't think that God knows because we have limited knowledge.
Sometimes we don't think that God cares because we don't.
Sometimes we don't think that God will punish because we let thing slide.
But God knows, cares and will reproves all their evil “in order.” (vs. 21) We too often forget that He is holy, pure and absolutely adverse to evil.
Closing Words of Warning And Grace
The worshipers had more to do and the wicked had much to remedy. Our glorious God sees and knows it all. We cannot hide. We can honor Him or be destroyed by Him. We can go on with “none to deliver” or we can see the “salvation of God.”