Jenny's Psalm Reflections: Psalm 50 v.1

Today’s verse is Psalm 50 v.1

"The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting"

Background:

Psalm 50 called “The Acceptable Sacrifice” is aprophetic imagining of God's judgment on the Israelites. It can be divided into an introduction (v1-6), two separate speeches in which God testifies against the Israelites (v 7-15 and 16-21), and a conclusion. The imagery of the introduction brings to mind the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai where God's appearance was accompanied by thunder and lightning. God summons the heavens and the earth to act as witnesses, and the rest of the psalm takes the form of a legal proceeding, with God acting as plaintiff and judge.

In God's first oration, he tells the people that he is not satisfied with material things but wants thanksgiving and sincere prayer. God's second oration is warning against hypocrisy. Finally, the Psalm closes with a final warning against poor behaviour and a promise that God will bless the righteous and show them the salvation of God (v23)."

A psalm of judgment, it nevertheless reminds us of the important message of focusing on gratitude rather than becoming drawn into being “busily religious.” It points to putting faith into action rather than performing ritualistic religious tasks.

Meditation

1. Find a quiet place.

Sit comfortably but alert – feet flat on the floor, back pushed hard against the back of the chair. Start your reflection with hands cupped open ready to be open to God’s presence.

2. Focus on your breathing. 

Pay attention to in-breaths and out-breaths. You may think of breathing in God’s life and peace and breathing out any tension.

3. Be aware of your body.

Let your aches and pains be there. Rest your hands in your lap ; you don’t need to be doing anything with them now. Rest your feet on the floor; you don’t need to go anywhere. Shrug your shoulders, ease your neck. Take time to become still…

4. Say verse 1 aloud. 

Say verse 1 aloud to yourself and don’t try to analyse it. Read it again slowly, listening.

5. Take time to become still...

Sit quietly and see whether anything about it strikes you as important for you in living out your faith with gratitude Tell God what it is. Ask God for what you need. Make a note of anything you want to remember.  Close the prayer with your hands cupped open as you finish with the prayer below.

6. Pray 

Heavenly Father, fill us with a realisation of your light and glory, to know that rather than appease you, we should be confident and live by faith, demonstrating God’s love for all through our interactions with others. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.