Psalms

Psalms 50: God requires thankful and obedient worship

Begin in prayer

Before we hear God's summons to His worshippers, let us ask Him to search our hearts as well as our words. Pray that He would bring us to Jesus and teach us thankful obedience.

But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Amos 5:24

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God sees the heart behind our worship and calls His people to thankful trust and obedience. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Asaph pictures the Mighty One summoning the earth as God comes from Zion to judge His covenant people. Heaven and earth witness His righteous judgment of those gathered before Him. He tells Israel that their sacrifices do not feed Him, because every creature and all the earth already belong to Him. He calls them to thanksgiving, fulfilled vows and prayer in trouble, promising deliverance that honours Him. The wicked repeat His covenant words while hating His instruction and joining theft, unfaithfulness, deceit and slander against their own kin. God warns those who forget Him of judgment without rescue and promises to show salvation to the one who offers thanksgiving and prepares his way.

As you read Psalms 50, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The righteous God judges His people and calls them to thankful trust and obedience from the heart.

God gathers His covenant people before heaven and earth as witnesses, showing that worshippers must answer to the righteous Judge. Fire and storm announce His coming, and His silence is about to end. The rebuke concerns the worshippers' hearts, since their offerings are already continually before Him. He owns every beast and the cattle on a thousand hills, so giving cannot supply a need in Him. Thanksgiving, keeping promised vows and calling on Him in trouble acknowledge dependence and give Him honour. The wicked speak His covenant while rejecting His discipline, sharing with thieves and those unfaithful in marriage. Their evil words also slander a brother, bringing harm inside their own family. They mistook God's silence for approval, imagining Him like themselves, and He now sets their sins before their eyes. His warning of destruction with no rescuer requires repentance, while thankful, ordered living receives the promise of His salvation.

How does Psalm 50 show us that the righteous God judges His people and calls them to thankful trust and obedience from the heart?

God calls His worshippers to answer before His judgment.

Heaven and earth witness the Lord gathering His covenant people. He comes as the righteous Judge who knows their worship. Their place among His people makes His summons a warning they must hear.

God receives thankful trust from people who depend on Him.

Every creature already belongs to God, so offerings cannot feed Him or put Him in our debt. He calls for thanksgiving, faithful vows and prayer in trouble. His deliverance then gives His people reason to honour Him.

God judges those who speak His words while loving sin.

The wicked repeat covenant words while hating God's instruction. Theft, unfaithfulness and slander expose the life behind their speech. God's patience will end in judgment, and He calls them to heed His warning.

Memorise

Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

Psalm 50:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin am I excusing while still speaking words about Jesus?

God says, “You thought that I was just like you.” The worshippers mistook His silence for approval while their words and lives dishonoured Him. His righteous judgment exposes the heart behind religious speech.

We also have offered words to God while hiding sin. Jesus bore His people's punishment at the cross and died in their place, answering the judgment their rebellion deserved. God raised Him to life. Everything needed for their pardon is accomplished, leaving His people no payment to make toward acceptance before God.

Turn from sin and trust Jesus. He forgives all who come to Him. Confess the wrong you have excused, and ask Him to give you a thankful heart that welcomes His instruction. God receives those trusting His Son with mercy, so their cries in trouble and thankful obedience can honour Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God sees the heart behind our worship and calls His people to thankful trust and obedience. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He needs nothing from us and mercifully calls His people to trust and honour Him. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.

John 12:48

Righteous God, You see the sins we hide behind religious words. Please lead us to repentance and faith in Jesus, whose finished sacrifice brings pardon. Give us thankful hearts that welcome Your instruction. Keep our promises faithful and our words truthful, and teach us to call on You in trouble and honour You for Your help. Amen.