Psalm 50

Do I Speak the Language of Heaven or Hell? Psalm 50

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

Thanksgiving is the language of Heaven.
Complaining is the language of Hell.

author unknown

Giving thanks changes the atmosphere in the room and sends waves of gratitude out. Simply sharing something you are thankful for with another person may result in that person sharing a thanksgiving. Could it be contagious? Also, God’s word says that it pleases the Lord.

Meanwhile, complaining can rapidly catch on and lead others to find ways to camp out in places of disgruntlement. Sometimes we even try to outdo each other with our level of offense.

In Psalm 50, God commands His people to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving.

Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High,
15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."
(Psalm 50:12-15 ESV)

God knows our tendencies to count ways things are lacking long before we count our blessings. I am incredibly gifted in this area.

Giving thanks is a skill in need of cultivation. It takes a certain level of intentionality. Most of us don’t default to listing what we are thankful for. It is far too easy to complain.

Four Actions

In these four verses from Psalm 50, notice the four actions required. 

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Are you known as a thankful person? Do you tend to give thanks for what you have or complain about what you lack?

Perform your vows.

Are you known as a promise keeper? Do you keep your word?

Call upon the Lord in the day of trouble because He has promised deliverance.

When you feel sad or troubled, do you call out to God or phone a friend? Do you seek God’s deliverance or your own way out?

Glorify Him.

Do you take time to give God glory when He rescues you? Or when He gives you a blessing? Do you seek ways to point others to Him?

The Lord calls out the wicked.

The Lord also calls out the wicked after encouraging His followers to walk out their faith with actions.

16 But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?
17 For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
18 If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.
19 "You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son.
21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself.
But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.
(Psalm 50:16-21 ESV)

Most of us don’t expect wicked people to be reciting God’s statutes or speaking about His covenant. However, Jesus warned his disciples about wheat and tares. The ones God calls wicked in these verses know His commandments and covenants. They know the truth and yet choose to turn from it.

God also describes them as those who are pleased with a thief, keep company with adulterers, and speak fluent evil and lies. Their pride caused them to believe God did not mind their grievous sins.

Does my pride get in the way of seeing my sins?

Simply knowing the truth does not inoculate any of us from the power of sin.

Mark this – Don’t Forget

22 "Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver!
23 The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"
(Psalm 50:22-23 ESV)

Could I possibly forget God? People forget Him because He suggests that those who hear this message “mark it.” It is as if He is saying, “Highlight this point,” because it is far too easy to forget God.

How does God call me to glorify Him?

In the final verse of Psalm 50, God describes the one offering thanks as a sacrifice and says that person glorifies Him.

These thanksgivings are costly time, treasure, and talent. If it doesn’t cost anything, then it is not worthwhile offering. It takes time and effort to cultivate a thankful heart and mind.

After all, a sacrifice made grudgingly is not acceptable. 

Prayer

Lord, we long to please you and make sacrifices you accept. But we know we have missed the mark so many times. Teach us and guide us in the practice of cultivating thanksgiving in our hearts and minds. Help us to “order our ways” rightly and please you in our obedience. We cannot do this in our own strength. We ask for your help every single day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

LORD of All – Psalm 50

/ Anthea Kotlan / Leave a comment

“Son, the sun never sets on the British Empire.”

My grandfather once told my Uncle Tony this as they stood in Trafalgar Square around 1945 or 1946. The British forces had defeated Germany, but the British Empire would lose much of its power and influence over the next few decades.

Psalm 50 opens with a similar sweeping statement about the LORD.

LORD of All Time Zones and Nations

1 The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
(Psalm 50:1-2 ESV)

The Mighty One works around the clock from the time the sun rises worldwide. The sun never sets on the Lord’s Empire, and He never sleeps. Not only does God keep watch at all times, but He also summons his subjects because He seeks to have a relationship with each of them.  

He is a fantastic communicator who uses the beauty of His creation to reveal His character.

LORD of All Righteous Judgement

3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest.
4 He calls to the heavens above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! Selah
7 “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
(Psalm 50:3-7 ESV)

Some Christian fiction stories about the end of days narrate a plotline where many people miss the Lord’s return. They somehow sleep through it or don’t notice His arrival. Verse 3 reassures us that we can’t miss Him. He does not keep silent, and a devouring fire and a big storm surround his arrival.

When He does arrive, He will call His faithful ones. He will recognize those who made a covenant with Him.

We don’t need to fear His judgment because He is a righteous judge. The heavens declare it.

He judges, and He will testify about his people’s lack of faith.

LORD of All of Creation

8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine.
(Psalm 50: 8-11 ESV)

God owns all the animals on the earth, so when we sacrifice without true repentance, it looks like someone regifting a Christmas present like a boomerang. God instructed His people in a sacrificial system, but His desire is for hearts to return to Him and obedience.  

God created the cattle on a thousand hills, and He knows the birds of the air, each one. He knows all the animals that move in the field. He created each one uniquely and knows what each one needs. He manages all of creation for His glory.

What difference does it make that you serve the Lord of all?

What difference does knowing that He is the Lord of all make when dealing with a problematic situation or praying for something that doesn’t appear to be working out?

Spend a few minutes today meditating on the Lord of all. He is sovereign over anything that comes your way. Release to Him all you are carrying because He is more than able.

Prayer

Lord of all, thank you for being on the job 24/7 so I don’t have to be. I can rest knowing you are still on your throne. Thank you for being a righteous judge who will evaluate me based on the covenant made through the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood that covers all my sins. Help me to be more concerned with being grateful and obedient than trying harder to please you. Thank you for tending to all of creation. While you may give me portions to manage in different seasons of my life, I don’t have to carry that as a burden. I can enjoy Your creation and see how You reveal Yourself in new ways every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.