Psalms 50:3
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
Our God {H430} shall come {H935}{H8799)}, and shall not keep silence {H2790}{H8799)}: a fire {H784} shall devour {H398}{H8799)} before {H6440} him, and it shall be very {H3966} tempestuous {H8175}{H8738)} round about {H5439} him.
Our God is coming and not staying silent. With a fire devouring ahead of him and a great storm raging around him,
Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.
Our God cometh, and doth not keep silence: A fire devoureth before him, And it is very tempestuous round about him.
Cross-References
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Daniel 7:10 (5 votes)
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. -
Leviticus 10:2 (4 votes)
And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. -
Numbers 16:35 (4 votes)
¶ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. -
Matthew 3:12 (3 votes)
Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. -
Psalms 97:3 (3 votes)
A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. -
Psalms 97:5 (3 votes)
The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. -
Hebrews 10:28 (2 votes)
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Commentary
Psalm 50:3 describes the majestic and awe-inspiring arrival of God, emphasizing His power and active presence.
Context
Psalm 50 is a divine summons. God is portrayed as calling the heavens and the earth to witness as He gathers His people, Israel, from the east, west, north, and south (Psalm 50:1). He is not coming to condemn their sacrifices, which He instituted, but their hypocritical hearts and failure to live according to the covenant. This verse sets the scene for this grand divine assembly, depicting God's arrival with powerful natural phenomena reminiscent of the giving of the law at Mount Sinai.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The imagery employs powerful Hebrew terms. 'Esh (fire) is frequently associated with God's holy presence and judgment. The word translated "tempestuous" (sa'ar) refers to a storm or whirlwind, often used to depict the irresistible force and majesty of God's actions or appearance, as seen when the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind.
Reflection
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God is not a passive deity. He is the sovereign Lord who intervenes in history and relates to His creation with immense power. His coming, whether in judgment, salvation, or presence, is accompanied by awe-inspiring might. For believers today, it emphasizes the seriousness of living authentically before a God who sees all and will ultimately bring all things into account. The same power that comes in judgment is also the power that works for salvation and transformation for those who are truly His, approaching Him with sincere hearts rather than empty religious performance. It points forward to future divine interventions, reminding us that our God is a consuming fire and His presence is not to be taken lightly.
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