Psalm 50 Part 1
Notes
Transcript
Psalm 50
Subject: Worship
Theme: True worship, judgment, heart devotion
Thesis: Psalm 50 reveals that God, the righteous Judge, calls His people to worship Him not merely through rituals but through sincere hearts, thankful obedience, and covenant faithfulness.
Principle Statement: God is not impressed by outward religious acts; He desires genuine worship that flows from a grateful heart and is marked by trust and obedience.
The purpose of worship is to glorify God!
I want for you to think this morning with me - you don’t need to answer out loud.
Why are you here?
I want to challenge our thinking this morning.
What is the purpose of church?
We live in such a consumeristic society that unfortunately that often gets translated into the church as well.
Psalm 50 gives us cause to evaluate our motives and our worship because God evaluates it.
Is it to be entertained or inspired by the music or message?
Is it to access helpful programs for your kids or stay socially connected?
Do you expect to be served more than to serve?
Are you hoping to hear something that makes you feel good—something that aligns with your views and lifestyle?
These are hard questions—but they're honest ones.
And they reveal something about how we often approach worship—not as worshipers, but as consumers.
The truth is, if we’re not careful, we can treat church like a spiritual marketplace.
We show up expecting to get something, but forget that God is the One we come to give something to—our hearts, our gratitude, our obedience.
And that’s exactly the issue Psalm 50 addresses.
In this psalm, God Himself steps into the courtroom as the Judge—not of the wicked nations, but of His own people.
They’ve been going through the motions—offering sacrifices, attending worship—but their hearts are disconnected.
Their view of God has been distorted.
And God confronts them with a sobering truth:
"I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens… If I were hungry, I would not tell you" (Psalm 50:9,12).
This is not a psalm about pagan idolatry.
It’s a psalm about empty religious ritual—about people who do the right things outwardly but have forgotten why they’re doing them.
Consumer Christianity asks, “What can this church do for me?” But true discipleship asks, “How can I serve Christ through this church?”
So let’s read Psalm 50 together, and allow God’s Word to expose our motives, correct our worship, and call us to grateful obedience and genuine faith.
A Psalm of Asaph. 1 The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. 2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: 5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!” 6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah 7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. 8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” 16 But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? 17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. 18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. 19 “You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. 20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. 21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. 22 “Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! 23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”
As Psalm of Asaph -
Who was he?
The most likely answer is found descendants of Levi -
39 and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, namely, Asaph the son of Berechiah, son of Shimea,
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Asaph the Person
In
7 Then on that day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the Lord by Asaph and his brothers.
This Asaph was one of three Levitical singers whom David placed in charge of the service of song in the house of The Lord.
The psalm has an introductory passage, followed by two principal sections.
This morning we are going to focus on the introductory passage.
God Convenes His Court (vv. 1–6) – The God Who Speaks and Judges
God Convenes His Court (vv. 1–6) – The God Who Speaks and Judges
The opening verse of this psalm is quite striking
In Hebrew - the verse begins in increasing specificity referring to God.
El - Elohim - Yahweh
“El” emphasizes His might. “Elohim” points to His sovereign rulership over creation. “Yahweh” is His covenant name, the personal name He revealed to Israel.
In other words, this is not just a powerful God, but the covenant God of Israel, who is also the Judge of the entire earth.
The ESV, NKJV, do a disservice in this with their punctuation.
New American Standard Bible (1995) Psalm 50
The Mighty One, God, the LORD,
This opening line is meant to cause the hearers to grow in a state of reverence and awe.
We might liken it to hearing Hail to the Chief when the president walks into a room.
In previous days there would be a herald who would announce the arrival of royalty.
That is what is happening here -
The God of all creation is being introduced, placed in the position of highest importance and authority.
I don’t know how many of you have ever been in a courtroom.
If you have, when the judge enters you immediately feel authority of their presence.
That is what this introduction is doing for us.
It is the all rise!
The honorable God of all creation is now presiding.
God is not just present though as we see in these verses.
He is here for a purpose.
God is speaking - God summoning all the earth.
English Standard Version Psalm 50
speaks and summons the earth
And it is is the earth in its entirety.
The audience is all of the earth - from the rising to the setting of the sun.
No man is above or will escape the what God has to say through this psalm.
No one is outside His jurisdiction.
No heart is hidden from His view.
No life is beyond His authority.
If we jump ahead briefly to verse 4 as well there is a vertical nature to this calling also “He calls to the heavens above and to the earth.
James Montgomery Boice puts it it this way -
Psalms, Volume 2: (Psalms 42–106): An Expositional Commentary Summons to Judgment
All are included.
None are left out.
We seem to be on the very edge of God’s final judgment of the ungodly, as indeed we are, though it is not in the sense we might have been expecting.
To understand verse 2 we need to understand some OT theology.
Asaph writes Out of Zion -
Zion is a term we hear as Christians but many I think, don’t really understand.
Zion is
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Zion (Place)
An ancient name for various parts of Jerusalem, of Judah and all the land, and also a metaphor for the people of God, at various periods, from biblical times to the modern period.
Theologically in the OT, Zion was meant to be the place that God’s truth was to flow from to the world
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Isaiah, Volume 1 Chapter 2
These are the words of the prophet, not of the people.
The prophet declares that the law would go from Zion; that is, Zion would be the centre from which it would be spread abroad;
Zion is put here for Jerusalem, and means that the message of mercy to mankind would be spread from Jerusalem.
Now Isaiah was written after this Psalm was written so Isaiah’s words, while helpful for us to understand, also include a lot of historical interpretation.
Zion refers to the people and the place.
The name "Zion" originally referred to a fortified hill in pre-Israelite Jerusalem
It was first mentioned in the Bible in relation to David's conquest of Jerusalem, where it was described as the "stronghold of Zion" that David captured from the Jebusites and renamed the "City of David".
The term's usage evolved from a specific geographical location to a broader concept encompassing both physical and spiritual dimensions of Israel's identity.
If we want to trace the idea presented by the word Zion back to its roots here, we really have to go back to the initial promise made to Abraham.
4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
It is clear to see why the psalmist says that out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
Israel was the people God chose, Jerusalem was the place.
They were meant to spread the good news about God to the world.
God’s presence radiates glory.
But notice: God is not simply present—He shines forth.
English Standard Version Psalm 50
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines forth.
He reveals Himself.
God is not hiding in the shadows.
He steps into the light as both Redeemer and Judge.
NIV Bible Speaks Today: Notes Chapter 50
The key sentiment in the early part of this psalm is that from Zion … God shines (2). God shows his glory as a God who speaks, who will not be silent
We see this truth as we continue into verses 3-4.
3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. 4 He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
This verse is both a theological declaration and a vivid theophany—a description of God's appearance that reveals His character.
It sets the emotional and spiritual tone for the rest of the psalm.
When we see fire used in this way in scripture it almost always communicates one of three things -
God’s holy presence.
God’s purifying work.
God’s consuming judgment.
In Exodus 3, when Moses meets God at the burning bush, the bush is on fire but not consumed. That’s when God reveals Himself as “I AM.”
Fire here symbolizes the holiness and self-existence of God.
God’s holy presence.
But more directly related to Psalm 50 is Exodus 19, when God comes down on Mount Sinai to give the law:
“Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire.” (Exodus 19:18)
The presence of devouring fire in Psalm 50:3 immediately takes us back to that moment.
God is coming again to speak, but this time not to give the law—this time to judge by it.
The fire represents the overwhelming, unapproachable, majestic holiness of God.
God is not coming gently.
He is not entering quietly.
He is blazing in righteousness, revealing that no impurity can stand before Him.
The devouring fire can also point to refinement.
God’s purifying work.
In Malachi 3, the coming of the Lord is described like a refiner’s fire who will purify the sons of Levi.
It’s painful—but it’s purposeful.
If you’re His child, God’s holy fire is not meant to destroy you, but to burn away what is false, shallow, or self-centered, and in the context of our psalm specifically in your worship.
Which according to Paul is everything we do.
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
God is zealous for His holiness.
24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
He is not a warm campfire for casual spirituality. He is the blazing center of all that is righteous and pure.
The second half of the verse builds on the same imagery. God’s arrival is not peaceful—it’s like a violent storm.
The word “tempest” describes a whirlwind, a storm of great force. This isn’t gentle rain—it’s thunder and lightning, a chaotic upheaval of the natural order. In the Old Testament, storms often accompany God’s judgment:
Do you remember how God answered Job
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
Verse 3 reminds us that
God is not tame.
His presence shakes the earth.
God is not indifferent.
His holiness demands a response.
God is not asleep.
He comes with power, and when He comes, everything is disturbed.
He is not just our friend.
He is not just our provider.
He is the God who comes in fire and tempest, whose voice shakes the heavens and whose judgment is just.
You may have seen videos of people standing outside during a lightning storm, holding up their phones to capture the moment.
Some laugh.
Some cheer.
Some don’t realize the danger.
Then suddenly, a bolt hits close—power surges, people scatter, panic sets in.
That’s a picture of what’s happening in Psalm 50.
Israel was going through the motions—offering sacrifices, singing songs—but they forgot how dangerous it is to treat God casually.
This verse calls us to reverence in our worship.
Remember how Paul calls us to worship - presenting our bodies - that means everything we do!
If God comes like fire and storm, if we are to worship as Jesus say in John says in spirit and in truth, then all that we do should not be treated like a casual hobby, or spiritual entertainment, or just a weekly obligation.
Sunday worship service, bible studies, family devotionals, individual devotional time.
All of these should be treated as a sacred encounter with the Holy One who is worthy of awe, repentance, and obedience.
It also reminds us that God sees through our masks.
His fire purifies the fake, and His storm blows away the pretense.
What remains is the heart—either surrendered or self-deceived.
In this event, God calls witnesses.
In the ancient world, particularly in Israel’s legal system, it was common for two or more witnesses to be summoned in any formal case (cf. Deut. 19:15).
In Deuteronomy 30:19, when God renewed His covenant with Israel, He said:
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today…”
Now, in Psalm 50:4, the same language appears.
God is not summoning random forces of nature—He is summoning cosmic witnesses who have been present since the beginning of His dealings with His people.
The purpose of the summons is that He may judge His people.
We need to catch that phrase - His people.
This is a sudden and surprising shift.
The Jewish people, and even us for that matter expect God’s judgment on unbelievers.
But this is a summon to God’s own people.
His covenant people.
The worshipers.
Those who offered sacrifices.
Those who knew His name.
This isn’t divine judgment against the wicked.
It is divine examination of the religious.
Here is a question I wonder if you have pondered -
As a Christian, will you face judgment from God?
This may surprise some of you, but the answer is a resounding YES.
Now I want to be clear - If you have trusted in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, this is not judgment about your eternal destiny.
Jesus had made that secure in Him.
His righteousness has been given to you that you would be secure with Him for eternity.
The judgment that believers face is not about condemnation, because through our faith in Christ, believers are no longer under God’s divine wrath.
Our eternal security does not remove us from any and all judgment though.
Because God’s desire is to refine us!
This should remind us of what Peter wrote -
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Peter is speaking here of suffering as Christians.
Suffering as a Christian is not something to be ashamed about.
We will face judgment of sorts as we live on this earth -
Judgment here refers to the act of judging, not to condemnation.
Suffering for Christ is a purifying judgment of God’s people because those who are truly believers will suffer for their faith rather than for their sin, and therefore they will be found to belong to God.
Those unwilling to stand with Christ when tested by suffering belong to “those who do not obey the gospel of God,” who will be both judged and condemned.
The first purpose of judgment (in the form of persecution) is to purify the church so that it will be able to witness to the lost. But it is also a warning to the lost.
The point is that God's judgment is moving through the earth. The church does not escape. When the fire of judgment burns the church, it is a testing, proving, purifying fire. Those who endure to the end will be saved (Heb 3:6, 14).
If God sends trials to the church now, this is evidence that He will someday judge the lost. We have our trials now and our glory later; the lost have their glory now and their suffering later.
John Piper notes that "This does not sound very comforting at first. When we are about to be arrested and killed for believing in Jesus it is not encouraging to hear that he is judging us in wrath like unbelievers.
We need to continue into verse 18
17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
V18 makes it plain that God's judgment upon us does not lead to condemnation but to salvation.
This is a very important distinction to make: the same act of judgment can be purifying love for believers and punishing wrath for unbelievers.
There is no promise in Scripture that saints will escape all tribulation, not even the last Great Tribulation.
What is promised is that when God's judgment comes upon the earth it will begin with the church and end with the unbelievers.
But for the church it will be the first of purifying love and for the unbelievers it will be the fires of punishing wrath.
These final verses of this introduction speak especially to those of us who are inside the church—those who attend regularly or semi regularly, serve faithfully, or even lead.
It reminds us that God sees beneath religious activity.
He examines the heart of the worshiper.
And one day, every hidden motive will be brought into the light—not to shame us, but to call us back to authentic covenant faithfulness.
This verse is a mirror to examine our hearts:
Do I honor God with my lips but keep my heart far from Him?
Do I serve out of love or out of obligation?
Am I hiding behind church involvement to avoid personal obedience?
Imagine a teacher returning to a classroom after stepping out.
The students have continued working.
Some did just enough to appear busy.
Others genuinely engaged.
But when the teacher returns and begins collecting the assignments, everyone realizes their work is now under review.
The Judge is not absent. He has returned.
And He is calling for witnesses to review our hearts, not just our habits.
The opening verses make it clear that just because we believe in Jesus, that does not let us off the hook.
We will continue next week to see what exactly God is judging in this Psalm.
A hint for you - it is worship.
This psalm should shake us a little.
It reminds us that God takes our relationship with Him seriously, and He holds His people accountable.
Not in a way that should drive us to despair—but in a way that drives us to honest reflection.
We live in a culture that often emphasizes how “approachable” God is—and He is, by His grace.
But Psalm 50 reminds us that the same God who invites us to call Him Father is also the righteous Judge who will one day evaluate the sincerity of our lives.
We cannot separate salvation from sanctification, grace from growth, or worship from obedience.
As stewards of God’s grace, we must remember that everything we do is before His face.
We don’t steward our lives before an indifferent God, but before a holy and speaking God.
He sees how we use our time, how we treat others, how we respond to His Word.
And one day, He will ask us to give account.
So what do we take away from this opening portion of Psalm 50?
God is not silent.
He is not distant.
He is not indifferent.
He is speaking—loudly—and He is summoning His people to the courtroom.
That includes us.
He is not addressing the world "out there," but His covenant people—those who claim His name and gather in His house.
And He is calling us to examine not just our actions, but our attitudes, our assumptions, and our affections.
You see, God is not impressed with religious routines.
He doesn't need our songs, our offerings, or our church attendance if they’re not matched by surrendered hearts.
He wants you.
He wants your thanksgiving, not just your traditions.
He wants your trust, not just your tithes.
He wants your obedience, not just your observance.
So as we close today, I want you to sit with this question:
Am I approaching church as a consumer or as a covenant worshiper?
Because how we answer that will shape everything about how we respond to the Lord—not just on Sundays, but every day.
Next week, we’re going to look more deeply at what God finds lacking in the worship of His people.
And we’ll discover the kind of worship that truly pleases Him—not a performance, but a life of thanksgiving, trust, and transformation.
Until then, don’t ignore His voice.
If God is calling you to the witness stand, how will you respond?
Let’s pray.
