INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 81
Psalm 81, written by Asaph is a Festival Psalm, probably used as a hymn sung in the Temple to celebrate the "Feast of the Tabernacles". It is broken up in two parts, with a `Selah' in between for a pause and reflection.
* The Festival - Asaph called Israel to sing praises to God. This is a special time of thanksgiving as the people of Israel are reminded of their deliverance from slavery from Egypt.
* God's Call to His People to Listen to Him and Obey - God wanted His people - the Israelites - to listen to Him and to follow in His ways. We too can do this by praying and reading His Word - the Bible.
"This powerful Psalm leaves no doubt of its Festal character and little doubt of the particular feast it was designed to serve: the Feast of the Tabernacles. This commemorated the wilderness journey and included public reading of the law." Derek Kidner (2014)
THE FESTIVAL - PRAISE & WORSHIP - Read Psalm 81:1-7
The Israelites were encouraged to keep their strength by singing "songs of joy" and praise. These were rich with "awe and reverence", and there was also a place for the use of musical instruments. Asaph listed the tambourine, the harp and the lute. The mention of the tambourine suggests that the people probably danced while singing their praises.
The trumpet was used to call the people to worship, and to their feast, "their great day of atonement, the Feast of the Tabernacles." This was a special time of thanksgiving, as the people of Israel were reminded of their day of deliverance and freedom from slavery.
"The story of Israel is only our own history in another shape. God has heard us, delivered us, liberated us." Charles Spurgeon
Many of David and Asaph's prayers begin and end with thanksgiving, and this is how all our prayers should be, if we want to receive the "fresh communication of grace from God and the manifestation of His divine love." Do we want to hear from God and grow more like Him each day? Like the people of Israel, God will meet our needs, and it will be enough, if we seek the Lord in prayer and read His Word.
"My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ." Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
"The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will be withheld from them that walk upright." Benjamin Beddone (1776)
PRAYER - LISTENING TO GOD AND OBEYING HIS WILL - Read Psalm 81: 8-16
The Israelites had great contempt for God and His laws. The only condition to His mercy was to LISTEN AND OBEY. The great tragedy was that they would not obey Him. Rebellious Israel rejected Him.
Our world today does a similar thing, rejecting God, and not listening to His Word. We "worship a secular culture - pleasure, fame, status and self absorption" - HOW CAN WE EXPECT THEM TO LISTEN, IF WE DON'T!
Finally, we see an ALL SUFFICIENT FRIEND, challenging His people to be confident and faithful.
God made a promise to the Israelites, as He does to us today. If we have faith, He will provide our needs.
"Open your mouth wide and I will fill it with good things." Psalm 81:10b (NLT)
"Picture a nest of little birds reaching up their mouth, opening them as wide as they can." Charles Spurgeon
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store it away in barns, and yet the Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26 (NIV)
We open our mouths wide when we pray:
* with a sense of need.
* with an understanding of God's greatness.
* seeking God's will, not our own.
There was a sense of God's longing in His Words - a desire to truly bless His people. Yet they would not claim His blessing. We don't have to miss this blessing. If we listen to God He will give us the right words to say when we pray. He will show us the direction He wants us to follow, when we read His Word. Obedience can help us with our troubles, just like God promised the help the Israelites with their enemies.
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