Time for God
Opening Prayer
Lord God, I give You all my hopes and dreams as well as my disappointments and pain. Use them for Your glory.
Read Psalm 81:1-16
[1] For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! [2] Begin the music, strike the timbrel, 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 festival; [4] this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. [5] When God went out against Egypt, he established it as a statute for Joseph. I heard an unknown voice say: [6] “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. [8] Hear me, my people, and I will warn you- if you would only listen to me, Israel! [9] You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me. [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 only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, [14] how quickly I would 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.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are the reasons for the psalmist's joyful call to worship?This psalm sets out a liturgy to be used during the Feast of Tabernacles, the feast Jesus was attending when he said “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37). The exuberant praise at the beginning is prompted by remembering how God rescued his people from Egypt (6-10). God heard his people’s cry for help and came to their aid. He provided for their needs in the desert and gave them the law at Sinai. There was no other God like him. His people should have responded with love and gratitude. But instead they went their own way and would not listen to God (11,12). Through the psalmist, God invites his people back (13-16). Despite their stubbornness and rebellion he is still willing to welcome them and satisfy them. Such grace! Such mercy! This is the same message God has spoken through Isaiah. Are we able to hear it loud and clear today? We are so like God’s people of old. We stop listening, we look elsewhere to find comfort and security, we start doubting God’s goodness and grace.
Apply
As you respond personally to God’s call to worship, pray also for those around you that they, too, may listen and live.
Closing prayer
Lord, cause me to be angry at whatever angers You, and to be joyful because of whatever brings joy to You. May I avoid all bitterness.
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