Heavenly Devotion: Psalm 50 – God Desires Sincere Worship

Psalm 50 – God desires sincere worship

(Written by Li Sze Chow)

Psalm 50 was written by Asaph, one of David’s chief musicians. This Psalm speaks the voice of God, to warn the people who treat Him lightly. First, God speaks to the superficially religious people who bring their sacrifice but are only going through the motion (verses 1-15). They do not honor God with true praise and thankfulness. In the Old Testament, people could offer an animal sacrifice to God for a temporary covering of sins. But it did not please God when their hearts were not in it and forgot the significance of a forgiving and merciful God. Similarly, we may fall into the same pattern when we participate in religious activities or attend church out of habit rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience. God wants a sincere heart of worship, not an empty ritual.

In the second part of this psalm, God rebukes the wicked and hardhearted people for their evil words and immoral lives (verses 16-22). They recite God’s laws but are filled with deceit and evil. We too are hypocrites when we are not what we claim to be. Allowing hidden sins or inconsistency of obedience shows that we are not true believers of God.

In verse 21, God seems silent at times, not because He is not condoning sin. Instead, God is withholding deserved punishment, giving time for people to repent (2 Peter 3:9). The Sovereign Lord declares, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” (Ezekiel 33:11). His silence does not last forever, the day of judgment will surely come.

Animal sacrifice is no longer applicable today. It foreshadows the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Jesus took our sins upon Himself and died in our place on the cross even though He did nothing wrong. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let us worship the Lord with a sincere heart, praise, and gratitude for His immeasurable love.

 

Let’s Read Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

1 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,
    fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

16 But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
    and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
    and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,
    you thought I was exactly like you.
But I now arraign you
    and set my accusations before you.

22 “Consider this, you who forget God,
    or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
    and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”

 

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your sacrificial love for us. Thank you for sending your one and only begotten Son to substitute the punishment of death for our sins. In this Easter, we must remember the depth of your love and sacrifice to grant us salvation for an eternal life in your Kingdom.

Thank you for your patience in waiting for us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. Help us to walk in your righteousness in our daily life and to always worship you with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

This devotional was kindly contributed by Dr. Chow Li Sze and her channel Heavenly Devotion. You may find the channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/HeavenlyDevotion/videos