Psalms 50:1-15 - Homilies By C. Short

False to covenant.

God comes to Zion, as he once came to Sinai, amidst fire and tempest, calling upon the heavens and the earth to be his witnesses, while he summons his people to judgment, in which he proclaims how they had been false to the covenant that was between them.

I. THE ACCUSATION . ( Psalms 50:7-13 .)

1 . They had forgotten the spiritual relations between them. ( Psalms 50:5-7 .) They were "his saints," "his people; he was God, even their God." And he had to testify against them. They had not acted up to the spirit of that relation.

2 . They brought him unspiritual sacrifices. Their heart did not go with their offerings. He did not complain of the offering in itself, but of the spirit in which it was brought.

3 . What they brought was no gift of their own. ( Psalms 50:10-12 .) Their offerings were his possessions, which he had in abundance.

4 . They had forgotten his spiritual nature arid requirement. ( Psalms 50:13 .) The flesh and blood of animals could not please or satisfy a spiritual nature.

II. THE REQUIREMENT . ( Psalms 50:14 , Psalms 50:15 .)

1 . Thanksgiving. The gratitude and praise of the heart—a spiritual offering.

2 . The paying of vows. The vows that are upon us in consequence of our covenant with God —or fidelity , faithfulness.

3 . Prayer. "Call upon me in the day of trouble;" not only then, but specially then.

III. THE REWARD OF SPIRITUAL SERVICE . ( Psalms 50:15 .) "I will deliver thee in the day of trouble, and thou shalt praise me."—S.