This magnificent Psalm presents the Lord conducting the judgment of the house of Israel in the last days. The judgment is set (Psa. 50:1-6), and then the books are opened, and out of them two distinct charges are read, as we shall presently see. The remnant are separated from this judgment by one simple characteristic: “Those who had made a covenant with God by sacrifice.” He does not describe them by any lengthened account of what they had either done or suffered for Him; but He speaks of them as believers, as sinners trusting in the blood and sacrifice of the Saviour. This is enough for the purpose. As Jesus, introducing the saints to the notice of the Father, tells of them in the same one character, saying, “They have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me” (John 17).
Jehovah then prefers His charges against Israel. He indicts them for ignorance of His true worship—in the same particulars as St. Paul charges the Gentiles in his sermon at Athens (Acts 17). And it is simply this; man in his religion treats God as one who is to be ministered to and to be appeased, instead of as the blessed giver and reconciler himself. This is the grand difference between human and divine religion. God’s religion is grace, man’s religion is works. Israel had loaded the altar with offerings, but did not use God as a deliverer (Psa. 50:7-15). Such is the first charge read out of the books when the judgment is set. The second is then moved against them. It concerns their practical life and conversation, as the former did their religion and worship. It condemns their conduct as astray also. Religious they were, but unrighteous also (Psa. 50:16-21).
Upon all this the Lord addresses a word of warning, of rebuke, and of exhortation, that Israel may heed it in time, ere the judgment thus announced enters, and there be no escape. Let them learn the religion of praise, and the conduct of righteousness, and thus be duly and happily on the road to salvation or glory (Psa. 50:22-23).
It is well, we may say on this Psalm, that the heart be established with grace, not with meats. God’s sanctuary is furnished with grace—man’s with meats or carnal observances. If it be God’s sanctuary we enter, we shall do so with praise, and leave it to walk in a well-ordered conversation onward to salvation or the kingdom as here shown us. If it be man’s sanctuary we enter—the “spirit of bondage” will fill us—“meats” or religiousness will occupy us, but no real renewed devotedness to God. God’s truth will free the conscience, and make us happy in Him through boundless riches of grace, and obedient to Him in ways of righteousness. Man’s lie or man’s religion will keep us in fear, and leave us unrenewed.