Psalms 50:22,23 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

A Final Plea To All His Covenant People (Psalms 50:22-23).

God now makes a final plea to them to consider their ways, and not forget Him. For if they do He will stand by when they are being torn in pieces and will not deliver them. For His salvation is only available to those who offer up to Him the ‘sacrifice' of genuine thanksgiving, and order their ways aright.

Psalms 50:22-23

‘Now consider this,

You who forget God,

Lest I tear you in pieces,

And there be none to deliver,

Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

Glorifies me,

And to him who orders his way (aright),

Will I show the salvation of God.

God closes by calling on those who have ‘forgotten' Him in their lives to consider what He says lest He tear them in pieces like a wild animal tears its prey, and there is no one to deliver them at the time of their distress.

Indeed He wants them to recognise that His deliverance is only available to those who glorify Him by offering to Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and who order their way aright. It is to such that He will show the salvation of God. (‘Aright' is not in the text but clearly has to be read in. The point is that in ‘ordering their way' rather than living loosely they are doing so in terms of God's requirements). Those who want to experience YHWH's salvation will only do so if they respond to Him from a true heart.

Psalms 50:22-23

22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.