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Psalm 81 | King James Audio Bible
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Psalm 81 is a beautiful and sensitive call to worship God. Reminiscent of an act of penance and reconciliation, the psalm becomes a tapestry of remembrance, recounting the historical journey of the Israelites from the land of Egypt and God’s faithfulness in delivering them.
The psalmist invites the people to celebrate the appointed feasts, recalling the statutes and laws established by the God of Jacob. In this call to celebration is a reminder of human disobedience and consequences of turning away from God’s loving guidance. There is earnest plea for Israel to heed the divine voice, embrace obedience, and receive abundant blessings promised by their covenant-keeping God.
The psalm opens with a command to sing aloud and make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob, accompanied by musical instruments and the blowing of the trumpet. This festive call to worship sets the tone for celebration of God’s greatness and a communal remembrance of God’s deeds.
As the psalmist recounts Israel’s history, the focus turns to the time of Joseph and deliverance from the land of Egypt. God, who heard the cries of His people in a foreign land, is portrayed as a delivering God. Imagery of removing burdens and answering in the secret place of thunder speaks to the powerful and mysterious nature of God’s intervention.
The narrative is reflective, expressing God’s desire for obedience and faithfulness. The call to hearken and declaration that no strange god should be worshipped underscore the importance of maintaining the covenant relationship with God. The psalmist recalls God’s identity as the one who brought Israel out of Egypt, urging the people to open their mouths wide to receive God’s abundant provision.
A sombre note is introduced as the psalmist laments Israel’s disobedience and refusal to heed God’s voice. Consequences of their choices are described as God giving them up to their own hearts’ lust, allowing them to walk in their own counsels.
The psalm suggests a wistful reflection on what could have been if Israel had listened and walked in God’s ways. The potential for victory over enemies and the satisfaction with the finest of the wheat and honey from the rock paints a vivid picture of missed blessings due to disobedience.
Psalm 81 | King James Audio Bible KJV | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Key Themes Of The Psalm For Reflection | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
- Call To Worship: The psalm begins with a resounding call to worship, urging the people to sing aloud and make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.
- Remembrance Of God’s Faithfulness: The psalmist recounts the historical journey of the Israelites, emphasizing God’s faithfulness in delivering them from the land of Egypt.
- Celebration Of Appointed Feasts: There is an invitation to celebrate the appointed feasts and to remember the statutes and laws established by the God of Jacob.
- Communal Reflection: The psalm serves as a communal reflection on Israel’s history, emphasizing God’s intervention, the removal of burdens, and answers in times of trouble.
- Call To Obedience: Woven into the celebration is a call to obedience, with a reminder to hearken to God’s voice and reject the worship of strange gods.
- Covenant Relationship: The identity of God as the one who brought Israel out of Egypt is highlighted, underscoring the importance of maintaining the covenant relationship.
- Lament For Disobedience: The psalmist laments Israel’s disobedience and their refusal to heed God’s voice, leading to the consequences of being given up to their own hearts’ lust.
- Missed Blessings: A wistful reflection on what could have been if Israel had walked in God’s ways, including victory over enemies and the satisfaction with abundant provisions.
- Potential For Restoration: Despite the lament, the psalm suggests the potential for restoration if Israel were to turn back to God and embrace obedience.
- Lesson In Faithfulness: The psalm is a lesson in faithfulness, reminding us all of blessings that come with heeding God’s voice and the consequences of turning away.
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