Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

Psalm 50. It is probably best to describe this psalm as an "oracular hymn," i.e., with it the worshipers sing God's pronouncement about how they should live as part of his covenant people. The God who speaks and summons the earth (v. 1) especially plans to judge his own people (v. 4), particularly to warn any of them who presume on the privileges of the sacrificial system, thinking that it is a way to buy God off, apart from a living relationship with him.

50:1-6 God Summons the Earth to Assemble before Him. The Lord, the God of Israel, is the Mighty One, who made and rules heaven and earth; when he speaks and summons the earth, he has the right to expect all mankind to pay attention; he especially expects it from Israel, whose very calling was to be the first installment of renewed mankind. When the song goes on to say that God shines forth from Zion, it focuses the reader's attention on God's particular people, Israel, and their privileged position (cf. Ex. 19:4-6): they are his faithful ones, who made a covenant with him by sacrifice (Ps. 50:5; cf. Ex. 24:8). Great privilege brings with it great responsibility, and thus God will judge his people (Ps. 50:4)--i.e., exercise his righteous rule over them, not necessarily punish them.