Psalm 81

For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph.

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious harp and lyre.

3 Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;

4 this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 He established it as a statute for Joseph
when he went out against Egypt,
where we heard a language we did not understand.

6 He says, "I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.

7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Selah

8 "Hear, O my people, and I will warn you—
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!

9 You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not bow down to an alien god.

10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

11 "But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

13 "If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,

14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!

15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.

16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Will you listen to the Lord? Will you submit to Him? Apparently, many of the the Israelites said no (verse 11).

Today is Good Friday when we remember Lord Jesus for going to the cross for you and me. Make a fresh new commitment to the Lord. Seek Him first above all. Don't just go for His blessings.

Say to the Lord what Moses said in Exodus 33:15 "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here (into a land filled with milk and honey)."


Things to ponder
1. Are there false idols in your life, as described in Psalm 81:9? List them down here.
2. Confess and repent before the Lord for worshipping false idols.
3. Pray a prayer of commitment today to seek God's presence more than God's blessings.