Psalms 50:1-23 - Exposition

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, the "chief," or superintendent, of the Levites to whom David assigned the ministry of praise before the ark ( 1 Chronicles 16:4 , 1 Chronicles 16:5 ). So are also Psalm 73-83. Some of these may have been composed by later Asaphite Levites; but the present ode may well be Asaph's own, since it "bears all the marks of the golden age of Hebrew poetry." Asaph's composition of a portion of the Psalter is implied in Hezekiah's command to the Levites, reported in 2 Chronicles 29:30 .