Have you ever had the experience of meeting someone that
you had long heard of? Over the period
of time that you heard about the person you formed an impression of what that
person was like, but when you meet them you find how accurate (or inaccurate)
your impression was. This psalm is
something like that.
The people of Israel had an impression of God. They thought they knew what He was like. Some of what they “knew” came for
Scripture. The account of the Exodus,
the Passover, and the regulations God gave to Moses established an image of God
for them. In addition to that, however,
they also looked around at the gods of the nations around them, and thought
there were similarities between Him and them.
It seemed reasonable; a god is a god after all!
The first eight verses of Psalm 50 describe the LORD much as any nation of the time might
describe their god. That is not to say
the description is incorrect, but simply that this is what the people perceived. The LORD
summons the earth. He commands the
sun. His beauty and glory
overwhelm. He is a devouring fire and a
mighty tempest; behold His power! He is
the one we offer our sacrifices to.
These sacrifices and offerings followed very detailed
instructions. God had established meticulous
rites for the Israelites to follow in their worship. And while the LORD
was and is all of the things mentioned above, He is also more than we
comprehend from our senses or reason.
Indeed, He is similar to the gods of the nations: better, the gods of the nations are similar to
Him, because they are pale imitations of the One True God, designed to lead us
away from Him.
Our relationship with false gods (and we all have false
gods in our lives, even if they are not Zeus, Baal, or Thor, but things like
money, pleasure and self) follows human sensibilities. There is quid
pro quo. There is mutual need. There are sacrifices, offerings, and things
we do to please the god, and therefore the god is does good things for us. But the One True God is not that way.
Verses 7-15 describe the LORD
as not needing our offerings. Sacrifices
are not required for God, but God gives the requirement for sacrifices for us. He does not rebuke the offering, but He does
not need it either. Instead of our
normal way of looking at offerings (animal sacrifices or cash) as something we
do for God, this presents a hint that our offerings are something we do in
obedience to God because it is good for us and for our neighbor.
God urges us to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, not a
sacrifice to placate or manipulate Him.
His desire is for us to call upon him in the day of trouble and see that
He will deliver us. Moreover, He has delivered
us through His own sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. Now we glorify Him!
The psalm also rebukes the wicked, and urges us to, “order
our way rightly.” Our worship and
offerings are not about what we do for God, but are our response to what God has
done for us. Instead of coming together
out of obligation, we gather from gratitude, thanking and praising God, giving
from what He has given us for the sake of His kingdom and mission. For when we move past worshipping merely from
duty, we see the salvation of God that draws us, enlivens us, and makes us
holy.
Father in Heaven,
You are the one who summons the earth and dwells in devouring fire and powerful
storms. Your power surpasses all I can
imagine. It is Your will to redeem me
freely, without my sacrifices. Help me
then to give You the sacrifice of thanksgiving with all my life for Jesus’
sake. Amen.
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