Psalm 50:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

NIV: and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

NASB: Call upon Me on the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.'

CSB: Call on me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor me."

NLT: Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.'

KJV: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

NKJV: Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

In this psalm, the Lord has rejected Israel's sacrifices (Psalm 50:7–9). These are the very rituals God commanded them to obey (Exodus 29:38–42). The problem is that Israel performs these sacraments in hypocrisy. In the prior verse, God began to explain what is wrong with Israel's approach to sacrifices and offerings (Psalm 50:14), pointing out that they were meant to be offered with thankful, sincere hearts.

The Old Testament covenant between God and Israel included promises tied to the people's obedience (Deuteronomy 30:15–20). That dynamic is repeated here, as the Lord promises to reward those who worship Him from the heart and obey His commands. The reward is rescue from ultimate disaster, which in turn leads to God's glory.

King Hezekiah trusted in the Lord. Assyrian forces laid siege to Jerusalem and their general sent a threatening note demanding surrender. Hezekiah entered the temple and laid the letter before the Lord. He called upon Him as the sovereign God of heaven and earth (Isaiah 37:14–20). He prayed, "So now, O Lᴏʀᴅ our God, save us from [Sennacherib's] hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lᴏʀᴅ" (Isaiah 37:20). God answered Hezekiah's prayer by dispatching the angel of the Lord to slay vast numbers of the Assyrian army, sending the rest scurrying home (Isaiah 37:36–37).

Psalm 50:7–15 explains the judgment which God came to deliver in the prior passage. All of creation was called to witness this verdict, given to the supposedly faithful people of the Lord (Psalm 50:1–6). In this passage, God notes that Israel hypocritically participates in sacrifices and rituals—yet they ignore God in their lives. Sin and disobedience mark their habits (Psalm 50:17). Still, they assume God is pleased with them. The Lord explains that without sincerity, those rituals are meaningless.

Asaph depicts God as an unimaginably glorious judge, calling the entire world to hear a divine verdict. Israel has offered sacrifices, but God ignores them. The nation rejects His laws. It is pervaded with blatant sin, even while they claim to be God's chosen people. The Lord's patience does not mean He does not notice. Those who continue ignoring Him will be "torn apart" without any possibility of rescue. Those who respond to God with sincerity will be rescued.

This psalm, written by Asaph, addresses the Lord's intended connection between religious rituals and daily behavior. When the people offer sacrifices, but blatantly reject God's laws, they invite judgment. This passage notes national sins mentioned directly in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14–16). In other writings, Asaph expresses frustration over Israel's continued rebellion and God's delayed response (Psalm 73:2–3; 74:10).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.