Psalms 50:1 « A Psalm of Asaph. » The mighty God, [even] the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
A Psalm of Asaph] Who was both a music master, 1 Chronicles 25:2, and a psalm composer, 2 Chronicles 29:30. The most are of the opinion that this psalm was made by David, and committed to Asaph to be sung, after that Israel had been afflicted with three years' famine and three days' pestilence, and the angel had appeared to David, and set out the place where the temple should be built, 2 Samuel 21:1,3 2 Samuel 24:13,18 1 Chronicles 21:18; 1 Chronicles 22:4 (Jun.).
Ver. 1. The mighty God, even the Lord] Heb. The God of gods, whether they be so deputed, as angels, magistrates; or reputed only, as heathen deities, 1 Corinthians 8:5. Jehovah or Essentiator, is God's proper name. Some say God is here thrice named, to note the Trinity in Unity (R. Nahum ap. Nebien).
Hath spoken] sc. By the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, spoke much like, Judges 1:14. The Rabbis say that this psalm is De die iudicii futuro, of the day of judgment. Others, that it is the Lord's judging of his Church, drawn according to the model of the great and last judgment, whereunto it serveth as a preparation or a warning piece.
And called the earth from the rising, &c.] The "habitable part of God's earth; the sons of men," Proverbs 8:31, with Malachi 1:11. These are all called to attest the equity of God's proceedings against a hypocritical nation, children that were corrupters. For God hath thus far instructed all men, that he is to be honoured of all, with all manner of observance, Romans 1:20. Let this be pressed upon all sorts, said Zalcucus the Locrian lawgiver, in the preface to his laws 1. That there is a God. 2. That this God is to be duly worshipped.