Day 286: True worship – Psalm 50 (A Psalm of Asaph)

1-3 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. Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. 4-6 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people (saying)  ‘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. 7 ‘Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. 8-14 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. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? ‘ 15 Sacrifice thank-offerings to God, fulfil your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.’

16-20 But to the wicked person, God says: ‘What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 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. You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. 21-22 When you did these things and I kept silent, you thought I was exactly like you. 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: 23 Those who sacrifice thank-offerings honour me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.’ Psalm 50 New International Version

Thinking of the words of this Psalm, what would you say true worship is meant to be?

The Psalm writer describes Almighty God coming in shining splendour to judge His people, and even inviting heaven and earth to witness it. Yes, God does judge His people! When Christians at Corinth abused what we call 'The Lord's Supper', the apostle Paul warned them saying: “If you eat the bread or drink the cup without honouring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.  That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died! But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 When He judges us it is for our good!

In the case of Psalm 50 we see two issues God was dealing with. Verses 8-14 seem directed towards those who thought they were ‘doing God a favour’ by bringing Him their sacrifices. But verse 15 & 23 show that that what they ought to have been doing was to bring God their heartfelt thanks – with faithful lives. Verses 16-18 are even stronger because God there condemns those whose worship was totally hypocritical. Worse still, because God was silent about their deeds they thought He was as indifferent to sin as they were.

Dare I suggest that these problems still exist today. We may easily think that our religious acts are for God's sake, and that we’re adding something to Him. Whether it's the style of worship we choose, or strictness of the rules we observe, we can be tempted to think that we are impressing God. And then there are people who may attend Church often, but do things daily that are so contrary to what God's word teaches. And because God doesn't appear to do anything about it, they think their lives are ok. Sadder still, some even use religion to mask whatever evil they are involved in. Psalm 50 is a reminder that there are times when God will act in judgement, even on those who consider themselves Christians.

True worship isn’t about places and ceremonies. Jesus said: “The time is coming -indeed it’s here now - when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) May that be true of our lives today.