In contrast to most psalms, it is God who addresses his people in Psalm 50. As a psalm, it is set in Israel’s liturgical worship at the temple on Zion (v. 2). As a prophecy, it shows us that temple worship was no mere monologue. Psalms 81 and 95 are also prophetic psalms and are explicitly set in the context of corporate, liturgical worship. Each of these psalms also alludes to Mosaic traditions (Sinai, exodus, and wilderness).

50:1–6 This prophetic psalm introduces Yahweh in the language of a thunderstorm theophany, that is, an appearance of God (our God comes). He reveals himself as God of the skies: he shines forth like the sun and a fire (lightning) devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. (Cf. the psalms of Yahweh’s kingship, where he reveals himself as the God of the stor…