7 Hear, O My people, and I speak, O Israel, and I testify against thee, God, thy God 'am' I. 8 Not for thy sacrifices do I reprove thee, Yea, thy burnt-offerings 'Are' before Me continually. 9 I take not from thy house a bullock, From thy folds he goats. 10 For Mine 'is' every beast of the forest, The cattle on the hills of oxen. 11 I have known every fowl of the mountains, And the wild beast of the field 'is' with Me. 12 If I am hungry I tell not to thee, For Mine 'is' the world and its fulness. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, And drink the blood of he-goats? 14 Sacrifice to God confession, And complete to the Most High thy vows. 15 And call Me in a day of adversity, I deliver thee, and thou honourest Me.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 50:7-15
Commentary on Psalm 50:7-15
(Read Psalm 50:7-15)
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to love God and our neighbour better than all burnt-offerings. We are here warned not to rest in these performances. And let us beware of resting in any form. God demands the heart, and how can human inventions please him, when repentance, faith, and holiness are neglected? In the day of distress we must apply to the Lord by fervent prayer. Our troubles, though we see them coming from God's hand, must drive us to him, not drive us from him. We must acknowledge him in all our ways, depend upon his wisdom, power, and goodness, and refer ourselves wholly to him, and so give him glory. Thus must we keep up communion with God; meeting him with prayers under trials, and with praises in deliverances. A believing supplicant shall not only be graciously answered as to his petition, and so have cause for praising God, but shall also have grace to praise him.