Highlights
- The majesty of God. He can summon the heavens above and the earth vs 4;
- He owns the whole world and everything in it vs 12;
- May these readings not just be good on paper but a reality and the truth.
Psalms 50:4-23
[4]He calls heaven and earth as witnesses to see him judge his people.
[5]He says, “Gather my faithful people to me, those who made a covenant with me by offering a sacrifice.”
[6]The heavens proclaim that God is righteous, that he himself is judge.
[7]“Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel. I am God, your God.
[8]I do not reprimand you because of your sacrifices and the burnt offerings you always bring me.
[9]And yet I do not need bulls from your farms or goats from your flocks;
[10]all the animals in the forest are mine and the cattle on thousands of hills.
[11]All the wild birds are mine and all living things in the fields.
[12]“If I were hungry, I would not ask you for food, for the world and everything in it is mine.
[13]Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
[14]Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised.
[15]Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me.”
[16]But God says to the wicked, “Why should you recite my commandments? Why should you talk about my covenant?
[17]You refuse to let me correct you; you reject my commands.
[18]You become the friend of every thief you see and you associate with adulterers.
[19]“You are always ready to speak evil; you never hesitate to tell lies.
[20]You are ready to accuse your own relatives and to find fault with them.
[21]You have done all this, and I have said nothing, so you thought that I was like you. But now I reprimand you and make the matter plain to you.
[22]“Listen to this, you that ignore me, or I will destroy you, and there will be no one to save you.
[23]Giving thanks is the sacrifice that honours me, and I will surely save all who obey me.”