This is one of the most majestic compositions of this book. For literary power it cannot be excelled. The psalmist hears God calling the whole world from east to west. His presence is compared to the dawn and to a tropical storm. When He is seated on His throne, the heavens and the earth bear witness while He judges His people. Then up the crowded aisles His saints advance and stand before Him.
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. [source]
Chapter Summary: Psalms 50
1The majesty of God in the church 5His order to gather his saints 7The pleasure of God is not in ceremonies 14but in sincerity of obedience
What do the individual words in Psalms 50:8 mean?
Notforyour sacrificesI will rebuke youOr your burnt offeringsbefore Me[Which are] continually
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: יָכַח
Sense: to prove, decide, judge, rebuke, reprove, correct, be right.