Psalm 50 Profile

Covenant Renewal Liturgy

In their early history, before the time of David, the Israelites probably had a special time in the autumn of each year to renew their conditional covenant with God, the Mosaic covenant. “If you will obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession…” (Exodus 19:5) The saving deeds of God in Israel’s history were proclaimed and the people were asked to reaffirm their allegiance to God.

Examples: Psalms 50 and 81

50

Deus deorum

¹ The Lord, even the most mighty God, has spoken *

and called the world, from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof.

² Out of Zion, perfect in her beauty, *

has God shone forth in glory.

³ Our God shall come and shall not keep silence; *

there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

⁴ He shall call to the heavens above, *

and to the earth beneath, that he may judge his people:

⁵ “Gather my faithful together unto me, *

those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

⁶ And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, *

for God himself is Judge.

⁷ “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; *

I myself will testify against you, O Israel, for I am God, even your God.

⁸ I will not rebuke you because of your sacrifices, or for your burnt offerings, *

because they are always before me.

⁹ I will take no bull calf out of your house, *

nor he-goat out of your folds.

¹⁰ For all the beasts of the forest are mine, *

and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

¹¹ I know all the birds of the air, *

and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell you, *

for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

¹³ Do you think that I will eat the flesh of bulls *

and drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ Offer unto God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, *

and pay your vows unto the Most High,

¹⁵ And call upon me in the time of trouble; *

so will I hear you, and you shall praise me.”

¹⁶ But to the ungodly God says: *

“Why do you recite my laws, and take my covenant in your mouth,

¹⁷ Though you hate to be disciplined, *

and have cast my words behind you?

¹⁸ When you saw a thief, you agreed with him, *

and you have taken part with adulterers.

¹⁹ You have let your mouth speak wickedness, *

and with your tongue you have set forth deceit.

²⁰ You sat and spoke against your brother; *

yes, and have slandered your own mother’s son.

²¹ These things you have done, and I held my tongue, *

and you thought wickedly that I am such a one as yourself.

²² But I will reprove you, *

and set before you the things that you have done.

²³ O consider this, you who forget God, *

lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver you.

²⁴ Whoever offers me a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me, *

and to him who orders his way aright will I show the salvation of God.”