(Verse 23) - This verse is intended to be a definition and not a "if-then" statement of what causes eternal life. It defines the one who is a true worshipper, not the works that make one a true worshipper. This relationship is one of the fundamental ideas in the Scripture. Our works don't make us Christians; we work because we are Christians.

''Offer" here is the same word as is used in verse 14. Here, connected as it is to praise, it is intended to suggest the idea of a sacrifice of praise as opposed to the mere sacrifice of animal flesh. The worship God requires is not the mechanics of sacrifice only, but praise that arises from the heart. Essentially, what is said here is that if you wont to sacrifice, it must be a sacrifice of praise. Animal sacrifices were never intended to be an end in themselves. They were always a means to the larger end of drawing men to submission to the salvation of God.

"...Ordereth his conversation aright" refers to the planning of or preparing of his life's way. Namely, this is the one who gives due and proper attention to these very serious matters. Again, pointing to the callous disregard of the revealed truth of God by the Jews that was mentioned earlier; this makes perfect sense. Whereas these had cast aside the counsel of God in the past, they are now to give it due consideration and attention.

We should also note that this speaks to the quality of that attention as well. It is to a giving of attention that results in the changing of the lifestyle. ''Conversation" refers to the entire habit of one's life. This is not a single event, nor even a series of things given special attention. Rather, it is to be such that our lives change as a result of giving heed to these things.

Once again we must note that this is not causal, but definitional, and we must be careful to avoid any hint of a works or human righteousness scheme of salvation. We have mentioned this previously, but it bears repeating. Our fundamental righteousless is a foreign one to us. It is Christ's and not ours. We must always be careful to be sure that we observe that difference and keep it ever before us lest we become guilty of trusting, to any degree, in human righteousness to commend us to God.

"...will I show the salvation of God." can be a reference either to Asaph as a teacher or to God as a teacher. They both have their positive side as to meaning. However, it simply is not clear which is intended. The wording "salvation of God" would seem to point to Asaph, but then the verse is clumsy as the one speaking abruptly changes from God to Asaph. While this is not impossible, it is difficult at the least. It seems best to take the reference to be to God speaking and not to Asaph.

The reference to ''showing" them is not referring to actually saving them but rather to teaching them about a Salvation they, apparently, knew nothing about. How sad to contemplate a group of people so blessed and privileged and yet completely ignorant of what salvation is really all about. Such a group is not hard to imagine. We live in a country filled with people in precisely the same condition!

The "salvation of God" is the salvation of which God is the author. This is an especially important note on which to close the Psalm. The Jews were, by their embracing of sacramentalism, erecting (or attempting to erect) a salvation that was not of God, but was, at least in part, of man. This is why the promise here is to ''show" or teach them this other, proper and Biblical salvation.

This need is common to all men. It is not natural to us to understand that situation is of the Lord. We, by our nature, seek to justify ourselves. Human righteousness and trusting in self is the natural inclination of our hearts and makes the best sense to the natural mind. We all need to be taught of God, by means of the Scriptures and God's Holy Spirit, to see that such humanistic pursuits do not yield anything but condemnation. 

See the other studies.