In both the times of David and today, there are talkers and then there are doers . . . those who seek God with their whole heart. God doesn’t want actions for show, he is looking for those with a sincere heart. Psalm 50 makes this clear. He will answer those who serve him in truth (v 15,) but those who are just making a show are doomed for destruction. (v 22)

Jesus may have had this Psalm in mind when he was giving John the Beloved in his warning to the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3:16 when he told them their lukewarmness, their hypocrisy, would cause them to spew them out. This was also the same warning given to Israel in Leviticus 18:28 by God, if their actions and hearts weren’t in line with his word the land would “vomit” them out.

God has always been looking for those who will worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24,) for those whose hearts, words, and deeds line up, for those who have an active faith like Abraham (Genesis 6:15.)

The key to becoming a man after the heart of God like David is given in Psalm 50 (v 14 and 23) and more clearly stated in Psalm 100:4, we draw near to God by thanking him for his goodness and all he has done for us, coming into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Psalm 150 the perfect capstone to a book about giving praise to God.

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Psalm 50

1 The Mighty One, God, The LORD, speaks,
and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines out.
3 Our God comes, and does not keep silent.
A fire devours before him.
It is very stormy around him.
4 He calls to the heavens above,
to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 “Gather my holy ones together to me,
those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 The heavens shall declare his righteousness,
for God himself is judge.
Selah.
7 “Hear, my people, and I will speak;
Israel, and I will testify against you.
I am God, your God.
8 I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices.
Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I have no need for a bull from your stall,
nor male goats from your pens.
10 For every animal of the forest is mine,
and the livestock on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the mountains.
The wild animals of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Will I eat the meat of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
14 Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Call on me in the day of trouble.
I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

16 But to the wicked God says,
“What right do you have to declare my statutes,
that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
17 since you hate instruction,
and throw my words behind you?
18 When you saw a thief, you consented with him,
and have participated with adulterers.

19 “You give your mouth to evil.
Your tongue frames deceit.
20 You sit and speak against your brother.
You slander your own mother’s son.
21 You have done these things, and I kept silent.
You thought that I was just like you.
I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.

22 “Now consider this, you who forget God,
lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.
23 Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me,
and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all you lands!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before his presence with singing.
3 Know that the LORD, he is God.
It is he who has made us, and we are his.
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good.
His loving kindness endures forever,
his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 150

1 Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary!
Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!
2 Praise him for his mighty acts!
Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him with the sounding of the shofar*!
Praise him with harp and lyre!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dancing!
Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
5 Praise him with loud cymbals!
Praise him with resounding cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!

Passages from the World Messianic Bible