Psalms

Psalms 81: God calls His people to listen

Begin in prayer

Before the feast calls us to joyful praise, let us remember the God whose rescue gives His people reason to listen. Ask Him to open our ears to His Word and bring stubborn hearts to trust Jesus for mercy.

I am Yahweh your God. Walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them;

Ezekiel 20:19

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God calls His rescued people to listen and find their satisfaction in Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Asaph summons Israel to a joyful feast, with song, strings and trumpet answering the command of the God of Jacob. The celebration remembers the Lord who removed slavery's burden and answered His people in trouble. His own voice then calls them to listen and worship Him alone, promising to fill the mouths they open to Him. Israel refused His voice, so He let them follow their stubborn hearts and their own counsels. Yet He speaks of the victory and finest food they would have enjoyed if they had listened and walked in His ways. The song ends with His offer to satisfy them with honey from the rock.

As you read Psalms 81, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God calls His rescued people to listen, warning against stubborn hearts and offering the goodness only He can give.

The instruments and feast gather Israel around a rescue God commanded them to remember, so their joyful music prepares them to hear His voice. The burden and basket recall Egypt's forced labour, from which the Lord freed the hands that now bring Him praise. His answer from the place of thunder and His testing at Meribah recall both His saving power and the people's need to trust. As their Redeemer He claims their exclusive worship, joining the prohibition of foreign gods to His promise of abundant provision. Opening the mouth wide pictures expectant dependence on the Lord whose generosity can satisfy His people. Their refusal brought the fearful judgment of being left to follow the stubborn desires they had chosen. God longs for their obedience, describing the good they forfeited and the enemies whose punishment would last forever. The finest wheat and honey from rock picture the satisfying goodness He holds before a people whose closed ears have brought them want.

How does Psalm 81 show us that God calls His rescued people to listen, warning against stubborn hearts and offering the goodness only He can give?

God gathers His rescued people to hear His voice.

The feast recalls the Lord lifting the burdens of slavery from His people. Their music answers His command and remembers His help. The God whose rescue gives them a song now calls them to listen.

God judges stubborn refusal and offers satisfying goodness.

Israel's refusal to hear led God to leave them to their own counsels. His warning exposes the danger of a heart that insists on its own way. His promise of wheat and honey calls them to seek their satisfaction in Him.

Memorise

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

Psalm 81:10

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where am I shutting my ears to the words of Jesus?

The Lord says, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” The people He had freed from slavery refused to listen to His voice. Their stubborn hearts preferred their own counsels to His satisfying goodness.

We too have resisted the God who has shown us kindness. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for His people, taking the judgment their rebellion deserved. He rose to life again. Christ has settled His people's whole debt, securing their pardon and welcome through the perfect obedience and offering He completed.

Turn from the desires that keep you from hearing Jesus and trust Him for mercy. He forgives every sinner who comes to Him. Ask for a heart willing to receive His Word. The Saviour who gave Himself for His people leads believers in good ways, giving them reason to listen with expectant faith.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God calls His rescued people to listen and find their satisfaction in Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His rescuing kindness and ask for ears that listen to His voice. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”

John 8:47

Lord God, please forgive the stubbornness that closes our ears to Your Word. Bring us to Jesus for the pardon His finished work provides. Thank You for the kindness You give Your people, and teach us to seek our satisfaction in You. Please give our children listening hearts and help our home receive Your commands with grateful faith. Amen.