The 50th Psalm is one of Jehovah's as-of-yet-unrevealed judicial decisions that will become operative upon his people during the tribulation. The following is a brief overview of the chapter.
"The Divine One, God, Jehovah, has himself spoken,
and he proceeds to call the earth.
From the rising of the sun until its setting."
Jehovah's speaking to the entire earth indicates that his judgments are on a much larger scale than merely tiny Israel, as some might wish to imagine.
"Our God will come and cannot possibly keep silent.
Before him there devours a fire, and all around him
It has become exceedingly stormy weather."
The Psalmist expresses the absolute confidence of Jehovah's loyal ones today, in God's determination to set things straight. His breaking of his long-held silence, and speaking from the heavens, is the commencement of the great storm of the tribulation that is destined t come upon the whole world at the prescribed time. It is reminiscent of when Jehovah spoke from the windstorm in Job's day in order to finally settle the issue originally raised by Satan and pressed forward by his earthly mouthpieces.
"He calls to the heavens above and to the earth
So as to execute judgment on his people"
Since Jehovah lives in the actual heavens, his calling "to the heavens above and to the earth" is symbolic for His calling to both the anointed, who are spoken of as being seated in the heavenly places, and the so-called Great Crowd, as those who are referred to elsewhere as the 'desirable things upon the earth.' The intent of his calling is as the verse says: "So as to execute judgment on his people." At the time that the judgment commences there are some among God's people who are loyal and some that are disloyal and even apostate. That's why God's issues the command:
"Gather to me my loyal ones, those concluding my covenant over sacrifice."
Elsewhere, Jesus foretells that he will send forth his angels who will perform an actual physical separation of God's people. So, while at present there are those lurking among God's people who are not loyal to Jehovah, these apparently are being marked at this very moment in preparation for the final judgment of God.
First God addresses his loyal ones through with what verse 8 calls a reproof. His reproving apparently is intended to correct an attitude of inflated personal importance among His loyal ones, whereby they imagine that they are actually rendering God personal assistance. That's why Jehovah says in verse 12:
"If I were hungry, I would not say it to you;
For to me the productive land and its fullness belongs."
The sacrifice that God asks for his people is their loyal thanks and the keeping of their own vows to him. In spite of his reproving His Loyal ones, God encourages and invites them to call on him for salvation, saying:
"And call on me in the day of distress, and I shall rescue you…"
Jehovah next turns his attention to the wicked ones among his people:
"But to the wicked one God will have to say:
"What right do you have to enumerate my regulations,
And that you may bear my covenant in your mouth?"
No doubt that sort of question from God will render the apostate speechless. In his supreme arrogance, the apostate elevates himself as a teacher of God's word. Despite their own disloyalty, ignorance, and faithlessness, the ones who come under God's judgment presumes to teach others their twisted ideas. God's rebuke continues:
"Why, you---you have hated discipline,
And you keep throwing my words behind you."
Jehovah's word hits the nail on the head here. It is obvious that the apostate ridiculers have hated discipline. They in fact refuse to be disciplined by God's reproof and dismiss and ridicule every attempt God makes to turn them back. They will have none of God's word before them in any sort of meaningful way.
"Whenever you saw a thief, you were even pleased with him;
And your sharing was with adulterers."
How true! The apostate welcomes with open arms everyone who throws God's word aside. Hence, the apostate ringleaders become partners with morally depraved individuals and encourage and strengthen them to remain in their chosen course. It is in view of such obvious moral and spiritual degeneracy that the apostle describes such ones as promising others freedom while they themselves exist as mere slaves of corruption.
"Your mouth you have let loose to what is bad,
And your tongue you keep attached to deception."
'Not us,' the apostate protests. 'We only speak the truth about the truth.' However, as has always been the case, human standards of good and bad are no measure of what Jehovah considers good and bad. Understandably, Jehovah has a slightly different estimation of things. He is the Author of the truth . In the end, his judgment will completely uncover the massive deception that apostates have accepted and perpetrated against others.
"You sit and speak against your own brother,
Against the son of your mother you give away a fault."
This could rightly be called the apostates' modus operandi. Insider tell-all types, like Ray Franz, and others, are revered by those who greedily gulp down their gossip. Others are emboldened by their horrific example to give away the faults of those in the local congregations and even speak against their own family members. No wonder the apostle Peter pronounced the sentence of the second death upon treacherous elders that would violate their sacred trust by using their knowledge against their brothers instead of for their benefit.
"These things you have done, and I kept silent.
You imagined that I would positively become like you.
I am going to reprove you, and I will set things in order before your eyes."
Obviously Jehovah has kept silent up to this very moment, and yet his profile of the apostate is right on the mark. Pitifully, in their utter stupidity, apostates imagine that they are performing a service for God by their giving away the faults of their brothers. Laughably, in their hubris, the degenerate apostate takes to themselves what is solely God's prerogative---to correct and punish God's holy ones. When Jehovah speaks, his instructions will set his organization aright. In so doing, the wicked accusers of his people will suffer lasting humiliation.
"Understand this, please, you forgetters of God.
That I may not tear you to pieces without there being any deliverer."
In God's mercy, he considerately pleads with his wayward people to reconsider their course before it's too late. At the time that the storm of the tribulation overtakes this system the only place of refuge will be under God's umbrella of protection.
"As for the one keeping a set way, I will cause him to see salvation by God."
For the most part, those now in rebellion against God will chose to die rather than submit to his word. But, those who persist in the way of life that they originally accepted from Christ's brothers are the ones whom Jehovah will save in the end.
/ You Know