The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.
3 Our God comes
    and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
    and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
    and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 ‘Gather to me this consecrated people,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’
6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    for he is a God of justice.

7 ‘Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.
8 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
    or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

14 ‘Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,
    fulfil your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’ (NIVUK)

Fundamentally, the world is divided into two. There are those who are God’s people, and there are those who are not. This is reflected in the two halves of this Psalm. Furthermore, God is the Judge of all the earth.

In addressing His covenant people, Israel, the Lord makes it clear that He doesn’t need their sacrifices for His food. He owns everything. Nevertheless (see vv.14,15 and 23),He does desire their appointed sacrifices as an expression of true worship.

I don’t find fault with your acts of worship,
    the frequent burnt sacrifices you offer.
But why should I want your blue-ribbon bull,
    or more and more goats from your herds?
Every creature in the forest is mine,
    the wild animals on all the mountains.
I know every mountain bird by name;
    the scampering field mice are my friends.
If I get hungry, do you think I’d tell you?
    All creation and its bounty are mine.
Do you think I feast on venison?
    or drink drafts of goats’ blood?
Spread for me a banquet of praise,
    serve High God a feast of kept promises,
And call for help when you’re in trouble—
    I’ll help you, and you’ll honour me.” (The Message)

In verse 15 there is a precious promise made to God’s people who will pray to Him ”in the day of trouble”. This could certainly describe our present day in terms of international politics. But we know that, sooner or later, we find ourselves in personal days of trouble, As someone observed, it is indeed very wonderful to be able to come before God with His own promises, and say to Him, ‘Do as you have said.’

‘There is no need to enlarge upon the spiritual insight of the psalmist, who realizes that God cannot be enriched by anything that we can bring; but insists on the sacrifice of thanksgiving, vows of consecration, and the loud call for help in the day of trouble. These are characteristic of those whose God is the Lord, and of the people whom He has taken for His own inheritance. Let us specially ponder these three conditions of the happy life, Psalms 50:14-15 . What comfort is contained in the blessed promise of Psalms 50:15 ! It is so absolute in its certainty and assurance. God has here bound Himself to deliver the soul that calls on Him in its trouble and give it reason to glorify Him.’ F.B. Meyer