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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:1-23

The psalm consists of four portions: 1. An introduction (divided off by the pause-mark, "Selah," from the rest of the psalm), announcing the "appearance," and calling on heaven and earth to witness it ( Psalms 50:1-6 ). 2. An address to the godly Israelites ( Psalms 50:7-15 ). 3. An address to the ungodly Israelites ( Psalms 50:16-21 ). 4. A conclusion, divided equally between threat and promise ( Psalms 50:22 , Psalms 50:23 ). The psalm is ascribed to Asaph,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:1-23

The Judge, the judged, and the eternal judgment. A psalm-writer whom we have not met before, appears to have penned this psalm—Asaph. But whether it was by him or for his choir is somewhat uncertain. " Asaph was the leader and superintendent of the Levitic choirs appointed by David ( 1 Chronicles 16:4 , 1 Chronicles 16:5 ; cf. 2 Chronicles 29:30 ). He and his sons presided over four out of the twenty-four groups, consisting each of twelve Levites, who conducted, in turn, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:1-23

God the righteous Judge. I. THAT GOD WILL JUDGE ALL MEN . Even now there is judgment. Every act of our lives has its moral character, and carries its consequences of good or evil. But this judgment is but partial and incomplete. Reason, conscience, and Holy Scripture proclaim a judgment to come which will be perfect and final. The supreme Judge of all men is God. He and he alone has the right and the power. Be has perfect knowledge, and cannot err; he has absolute... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:7-21

True religion and its counterfeits. The great evil to which Israel was exposed was the separation of religion from morality. This comes out lamentably in their history, and forms the burden of much of the teaching of their prophets. So in this psalm, which contains a powerful demonstration of the worthlessness of religion without godliness. The psalm may help us to consider true religion and its counterfeits. I. SUPERSTITION . ( Psalms 50:7 .) Nothing in religion can be real and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:16

But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? The wicked assumed that they were true Israelites. They were familiar with the words of God's statutes, and with the terms of the covenant. They claimed the right of enforcing them against others ( Romans 2:18-20 ), while in their own persons they set them at nought ( Psalms 50:18-20 ). God declares that they have no right to assume to be teachers of others... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:16-21

While even the more godly among the Israelites have been thus, to a certain extent, reproved ( Psalms 50:8-14 ), the psalmist now addresses to the ungodly, the open and wilful transgressors, a far sterner rebuke. They claim the privileges of God's covenanted servants ( Psalms 50:16 ), but perform none of the duties ( Psalms 50:17-20 ), thus bringing down upon themselves a terrible menace. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:16-23

Hypocrisy. God speaks to the whole nation in the previous part of the psalm; here to hypocrites. I. THEY MADE PROFESSION OF RELIGION , WHICH THEIR LIVES CONTRADICTED . ( Psalms 50:16-20 .) 1 . They treated the Divine Law with open contempt. ( Psalms 50:17 .) Because they "hated" the control that it imposes. 2 . They were guilty of the grossest violations of that Law. ( Psalms 50:18-20 .) Theft, adultery, and false witness, not only against their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:17

Seeing thou hatest instruction (comp. Proverbs 1:25 , Proverbs 1:29 ). God, by his Law, teaches men their duties; but many men "hate" to be instructed. And castest my words behind thee . They proceed from "inward alienation" to "open rejection" of the moral law. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:18

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst unto him . God tests his professed, but really disobedient, servants by the second table of the Decalogue, and finds them wanting. If they do not themselves actually rob, they give their consent, they become accessories before the fact, to robbery. They probably participate in the gains. And hast been partaker with adulterers; rather, and with adulterers is thy portion ; i.e. thou hast thrown in thy lot with them, hast adopted their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 50:19

Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit; rather, thou hast loosed thy mouth to evil; i.e. given it liberty to utter all manner of wicked speech; and especially thou hast used mouth and tongue to cozen and deceive. read more

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