Psalm 50
A psalm of Asaph.
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord,
speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty,
God shines forth.
3 Our God comes
and will not be silent;
a fire devours before him,
and around him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above,
and the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather to me this consecrated people,
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 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 I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices
or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me.
9 I have no need of a bull from your stall
or of goats from your pens,
10 for every animal of the forest is mine,
and the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know every bird in the mountains,
and the insects in the fields are mine.
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls
or drink the blood of goats?
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God,
fulfill your vows to the Most High,
15 and call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
16 But to the wicked person, God says:
“What right have you to recite my laws
or take my covenant on your lips?
17 You hate my instruction
and cast my words behind you.
18 When you see a thief, you join with him;
you throw in your lot with adulterers.
19 You use your mouth for evil
and harness your tongue to deceit.
20 You sit and testify against your brother
and slander your own mother’s son.
21 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.
22 “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.”
Russia speaks of a “Special Operation” in Ukraine. Call it what it is: an unprovoked, unjustified, invasion. The USA speaks of “Operation Prosperity Guardian” in Yemen. Call it what it is: overwhelming missile strikes on civilian and commercial infrastructure. Israel speaks of a “forceful operation to destroy Hamas and rescue the remaining hostages”. Call it what it is: the forced removal of 2.1 million civilians by bombing and starvation. Donald Trump says of the AI generated image of himself as Pope that “Catholics loved it.” Call it what it is: deeply offensive and inappropriate.
We are used to politicians and generals reframing what they are doing to make it sound palatable and entirely reasonable. Psalm 50 is not aimed at them. It’s aimed at the people of God. At us. And it’s a challenge to ‘Call it what it is.’ In recent months I have listened to some Christians in various debates carefully avoiding using biblical references that might either undermine their own argument or provoke a confrontation with an opponent. Call it what it is: “You…cast my words behind you” (Ps.50:17). I have listened to some Christians in various contexts publicly defend or endorse influential leaders who have been convicted of illegality and immorality. Call it what it is: “You throw in your lot with adulterers” (Ps.50:18). I have listened to some Christians denigrate and demonise those with alternative views to their own. Call it what it is: “You use your mouth for evil” (Ps.50:19).
I often turn to the psalmists for words of comfort, of encouragement, of praise, of guidance; for beautiful prayers; for the language of longing and lament. But Psalm 50 does not fit any of these. Call it what it is: a gut-punch, a brutal shaming, a harsh reality check, a ruthless take-down. Let’s ensure the judgement of the final verses would never apply to us. Call it what it is: “‘Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you’” (Ps.50:22).