Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 50:21

"These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: [But] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes." — Psalms 50:21 (ASV)

These things you have done, and I kept silence – Compare the notes at (Isaiah 18:4). The meaning is that while they did these things—while they committed these abominations—he did not interfere. He did not come forth in his anger to destroy them. He had borne all this with patience. He had borne this until it was now time that he should interpose (Isaiah 18:3), and state the true principles of his government, and warn them of the consequences of such a course of sin and hypocrisy. Compare the notes at (Acts 17:30).

You thought that I was altogether such a one as yourself – The idea here is that they thought or imagined God was just like themselves in the matter under consideration, and they acted under this impression.

In other words, the fair interpretation of their conduct was that they regarded God in this way. That is, they supposed that God would be satisfied with the forms of religion, just as they were. They believed that all he required was the proper offering of sacrifice, according to their views of the nature of religion.

They also thought he did not regard principle, justice, pure morality, or sincerity, even as they themselves did not. Furthermore, they assumed he would not be strict in punishing sin, or in reproving them for it, if these forms were maintained, just as they were not disposed to be rigid on the subject of sin.

But I will reprove you – I will rebuke you both for your sins and for this view of the nature of religion.

And set them in order – Literally, I will array them; that is, I will draw them out to view in their appropriate ranks and orders, as soldiers are drawn up in martial array. They will be so arranged and classified that they can be seen distinctly.

Before your eyes – So that they may be plainly seen. The meaning is, that they would have a clear and impressive view of them: they would be made to see them as they were. This might be done then, as it is done now, either:

1. by their being set before their minds and hearts, so that they would see and feel the enormity of sin, namely, by conviction for it; or
2. by sending such punishment on them for their sins that they could measure the guilt and the number of their transgressions by the penalties that would be inflicted.

In some way all sinners will yet be made to see the nature and the extent of their guilt before God.