What is the meaning of Psalm 50:1?

A Psalm of Asaph

• Asaph was a chief musician appointed by David (1 Chronicles 6:39; 25:1), so this superscription signals both authorship and authority.

• His role as a seer (2 Chronicles 29:30) reminds us that the psalm is prophetic as well as poetic—intended not merely for performance but for revelation.

• Knowing the human writer helps us situate the psalm in Israel’s worship life, yet the ultimate Author is the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21).

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The Mighty One, God the LORD

• The threefold title piles up divine names to stress power and covenant faithfulness.

– “Mighty One” underscores absolute strength (Joshua 22:22).

– “God” points to His deity and sovereignty (Deuteronomy 10:17).

– “the LORD” (YHWH) recalls His personal covenant name given to Moses (Exodus 3:14).

• Similar triple designations appear in Psalm 80:4 and Revelation 19:6, reminding us that the One who speaks here is unrivaled in majesty.

• Because Scripture is inerrant, this declaration of who God is establishes the unshakable foundation for the entire psalm.

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Speaks and summons the earth

• The God who once spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:9) now addresses His world again.

• “Speaks” implies clear, authoritative communication; it is never vague (Isaiah 55:11).

• “Summons” indicates a legal call to appear before Him, foreshadowing the courtroom imagery that follows in verses 4–6 (Amos 3:8).

• No creature or corner of the planet is exempt; the whole earth must listen.

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From where the sun rises to where it sets

• This expression stretches from east to west, portraying universal scope (Psalm 113:3).

• It echoes the promise that God’s name will be great among the nations (Malachi 1:11).

• The phrase dissolves any notion that God is a regional deity; He is Lord over all times, places, and peoples (Isaiah 45:6).

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summary

Psalm 50:1 opens with a burst of certainty: Asaph records that the covenant-keeping, all-powerful LORD has issued a global summons. The Creator who spoke light into being now calls every inhabitant of earth—from sunrise to sunset—to hear His words and be accountable to Him. This verse sets the stage for the rest of the psalm’s courtroom scene, reminding us that the One who judges is both mighty and faithful, and His authority spans the entire world.