Psalm 50 – The Mighty One
In Psalm 50 – the mighty one, the psalmist addresses God as the mighty one. What does it mean to say God is mighty?
Psalm 50
Psalm 50 – the mighty one, begins with a theophany, a visible manifestation of God. What makes God so mighty? He commands the heavens and the earth.
“The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.” (1-2)
God is not silent. God comes with a devouring fire, bringing justice to the people.
“Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages.
He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people:
“Gather to me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.” (3-6)
What is God saying?
God comes as a prosecuting attorney, preparing to make charges against the people.
“Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God.” (7)
What are the charges? To the righteous he says he doesn’t need burnt offerings or animal sacrifices. Instead, he wants a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens,
for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” (8-10)
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” (14-15)
To the wicked, his brings his case against them. They spread lies and slander, they steal and disregard his words.
“You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers.
You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.” (17-19)
In Psalm 50 – the mighty one, God comes bringing justice to the nations.
“But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” (21b-23)
What is this sacrifice of thanksgiving that God wants? We are to offer praise and thanksgiving to our God. (For more on this see What Is a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving? – Patricia M Robertson.)
The Second Coming
Psalm 50 – the mighty one, reminds me of passages about the second coming. God comes in, riding on the clouds in order to bring justice. God judges among the people, separating those who are righteous from the wicked.
As we prepare for the end of the church year, the readings turn to end times, the second coming when Jesus will come in glory. This is not the vulnerable baby of Christmas, or the man hanging on a cross from Good Friday. This is an entirely different way of seeing Jesus in all of his glory. Yet another way of seeing our God.
As I reflected on the first six verses of this psalm, the image that came to mind was an image of God riding a flaming chariot across the sky and throwing thunder bolts, or riding on the waves like Poseidon. As scary as this image was, I wasn’t afraid. Instead, I was comforted.
It is comforting to know that there will be a day of judgment, that evil will not win out in the end, eventually liars will become ensnared in their own web, And, that someday God’s will, will prevail on this earth. If God has to throw a few thunderbolts to get everyone’s attention, then I’m all for it.
Psalm 50 – The Mighty One
God’s greatness lies not just in his mighty power but in God’s justice. God will be mighty in providing justice to a world so in need of this honesty and integrity. This is not the justice of the world. It will not be like anything we can imagine, because it will be from God. And I’m good with that. I trust God’s justice more than human justice.
So, let us go to prayer full of thanksgiving and praise and call upon our God who is mighty and just.
How do you feel about the image of God coming in God’s glory to administer justice?
(For other thoughts on this psalm see Psalm 50: What Does it Mean to Offer a Sacrifice of Praise? – Patricia M Robertson and Psalm 50: No Bull! – Patricia M Robertson,)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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