In this psalm the imagined scene is a theophany, God appearing in fire and tempest at Mount Zion to summon the entire world to his judgment seat (1-4a). But if all eyes are on him, his eyes are on Israel (4b). They are a special people—a consecrated people, who made a covenant with God (5).
However, their covenant relationship with God has deteriorated into a mindless religion (7-13). They depended on the rituals of the sacrificial system instead delighting in God’s laws and words of covenant (16; 1:2-3). When they recite the Scriptures with their lips, they do not delight in them but loathed them (17). When they do not cherish God’s words in their hearts, they go astray and become thieves, adulterers, liars, and slanderers (18-20). God calls them to repentance (21,22).
The fruit of repentance is thanksgiving (14,23a). God promises deliverance and salvation to those who repent and give him offerings of thanksgiving (15,23).
Jul 9, 2026
SACRIFICE THANK OFFERINGS TO GOD
Passage: bible.psalm 50:1-23
Key verse: 14
NIV
chapter 50
1. [A psalm of Asaph.] The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
3. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
4. He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5. "Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice."
6. And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.
7. "Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God.
8. I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
10. for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.
12. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14. "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15. and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."
16. But to the wicked person, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?
17. You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
18. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.
20. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son.
21. When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you.
22. "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23. Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation."
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Father, I repent of my lukewarm heart in coming to you, only going through the motions. May I meditate on and delight in your words, which will renew my heart and soul. Amen.
One Word: “I have treasured Your word in my heart” (Psalm 119:11; NASB)