Heading.
‘A Psalm of Asaph.'
The Songs of the Sons of Korah having come to an end as far as Book 2 is concerned (42-49), we now have a Psalm of Asaph which stands on its own, presumably because it was seen as forming a bridge between Psalms 49, 51. This Psalm will then be followed by a number of Psalms of David, and one of Solomon.
As we will see later there are a number of Psalms of Asaph, but the remainder are in Book 3 (73-83) where they are followed by more songs of the Sons of Korah. Asaph was one of David's three chief musicians, and ‘the sons of Asaph' continued throughout the generations to provide music for the Temple (2 Chronicles 20:14; 2Ch 29:13; 2 Chronicles 35:15. See also Ezra 2:41; Ezra 3:10; Nehemiah 7:44; Nehemiah 11:22). For further information see the introduction to Book 3.
Like Psalms 49 this is a teaching Psalm, but more from a prophetic viewpoint. Note, for example, the importance of the divine utterance, the description of the theophany, the stress on spiritual worship as against sacrifice, and the denunciation of the wicked. Thus whereas Psalms 49 was addressed to ‘the peoples', this Psalm is specifically concerning the people of YHWH. It contains a solemn picture of His judgment of them, as the mighty God YHWH calls on all the earth to witness as He sits to judge His people. It contains a firm warning that if they are to be able to depend on Him to answer them in the Day of Trouble, then they must walk rightly before Him and offer Him true worship.
It can be divided up as follows:
1) God is pictured as coming from Zion, surrounded by the symbols of His majesty described in terms of a tremendous storm. All are called on to witness His act of judgment on His covenant people whom He has caused to be gathered together (Psalms 50:1-6).
2) God speaks to the majority of His people who have not gone too badly astray and calls on them to recognise that what He requires of them is not sacrifices and offerings which are simply designed to ‘satisfy' Him. What He requires from them is rather their true worship and obedience. Then they can be sure that He will respond to them in the day of trouble (Psalms 50:7-15).
3) God speaks to the ‘wicked', the more overt covenant breakers, whom he sees as blatantly hypocritical, and outlines the activities that cut them off from His mercy. He points out that He is coming in order to ‘reprove' them and put things right (Psalms 50:16-21).
4) God calls on all who have forgotten Him to consider, lest they finally discover that there is none to deliver, and promises that to those who truly praise Him and live rightly before Him, He will show the salvation of God (Psalms 50:22-23).