The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth, from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
The first of the Asaph psalms
This, the first of the Asaph psalms, is separated from the other eleven (Psalms 73:1-28; Psalms 74:1-23; Psalms 75:1-10; Psalms 76:1-12; Psalms 77:1-20; Psalms 78:1-72; Psalms 79:1-13; Psalms 80:1-19; Psalms 81:1-16; Psalms 82:1-8; Psalms 83:1-18.) for reasons that do not appear. Probably they are no more recondite than the verbal resemblance between the summons to all the earth at the beginning of Psalms 49:1-20., and the similar proclamation in the first verses of Psalm
1. The arrangement of the Psalter is often obviously determined by such slight links. The group has certain features in common, of which some appear here: e.g. the fondness for descriptions of theophanies; the prominence given to God’s judicial action; the preference for the Divine names of El, Adonai (the Lord), Elyon (Most High). Other peculiarities of the class--e.g. the love for the designation “Joseph” for the nation, and delight in the image of the Divine Shepherd--are not found in this psalm. It contains no historical allusions which aid in dating it. The leading idea of it--viz, the depreciation of outward sacrifice--is unhesitatingly declared by many to have been impossible in the days of the Levite Asaph, who was one of David’s musical staff. But is it so certain that such thoughts were foreign to the period in which Samuel declared that obedience was better than sacrifice? Certainly the tone of the psalm is that of later prophets, and there is much probability in the view that Asaph is the name of the family or guild of singers from whom these psalms came rather than that of an individual. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
The religion of man
I. A solemn judgment awaits the religion of man.
1. Its Author. “The mighty God,” etc.
(1) Omniscient.
(2) Absolutely righteous.
2. Its witnesses. “He hath called the earth,” etc.
3. Its grandeur. “Our God shall come,” etc. The Eternal seems now silent; souls deafened by sin hear not His voice, but He will speak in thunder to them in the coming day.
4. Its officers (Psalms 50:5). Who are the officers? (Matthew 24:31; Psalms 104:4). “Gather My saints;” what a gathering! From whence? To whom? What for?
5. Its rectitude (Psalms 50:6). We may deceive ourselves, as well as others now; but the undeceiving period draweth near, and a period of inexpressible solemnity it will be to us all.
II. The worthlessness of mere ceremony in the religion of man.
1. You can give God nothing in your offerings. All belongs to Him.
2. He requires nothing. He is absolutely independent (Psalms 50:14-15).
III. The value of right-heartedness in the religion of man.
1. The nature of spiritual religion.
(1) Hearty gratitude. “Offer unto God thanksgiving.” Not because our thanksgiving is of any service to Him; but because it is right that His moral creatures should appreciate the favours He bestows upon them. Because it is necessary to their own virtue and happiness. Genuine thankfulness of heart to God is the paradise of spirits. Heaven is praise.
(2) Hearty vows. “Pay thy vows unto the Most High.” Resolve to love, worship, and obey the great God; and in genuine earnestness carry out the vows in daily life.
(3) Hearty prayer. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble”--with thine own voice, in thine own language, from thy own heart (Philippians 4:6).
2. The advantages of spiritual religion.
(1) Divine deliverance. “I will deliver thee.”
(2) Divine approbation. “Thou shall glorify Me.” That is, thou shall honour Me. What a reward! (Homilist.)
Preparation to meet God
The whole business which we have in the world is this, to prepare to meet God. This is the meaning of the whole Bible, to warn us that we must meet God, and to afford us every assistance and encouragement in this preparation. It is this in which mankind differs from all other creatures of God which we know of. Angels have not this call made to them. Brute creatures have not to appear before Him. Every mall that is born must at last come into His presence. “Who may abide the day of His coming?” Our Lord’s warning is, “Be ye ready.” What it will be to “meet our God,” no heart of man can conceive; for what thought of man can ever understand what God is? But we may come to know Him even in this world far more than we think we can, as He is revealed to us in Jesus Christ. The thought of meeting God is of itself so awful that we might have been disposed to sit down in despair at the contemplation of it, were it not for this access to the Father which we have in Jesus Christ. It is of infinite consequence that we should be prepared, “lest that day should overtake us unawares.” And we know in what way we are to be prepared, what the things are which will be required of us. We cannot undo the past, which must all come before the all-seeing eye of the Judge; but, during the little time that remains to us, we can earnestly ask forgiveness, with lastings, and prayers, and tears, for the sake of Christ; and thus we may, with God’s mercy, gain some hope and comfort before we die. (Plain Sermons by authors of “Tracts for the Times.”)