Scripture Reading(s)
Psalm 81:1, 10-16
81:1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
81:10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
81:11 “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.
81:12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
81:13 O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
81:14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.
81:15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their doom would last forever.
81:16 I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Reflections
God want’s His children to be prosperous and succeed in all areas. Sadly, a good parent cannot bless bad behavior. In Psalm 81, God’s frustration with Israel’s disobedience is personified by the Psalmist.
O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.
We are a wayward people as also. We have the words of the Lord in front of us and in our hearts yet we will still sin and do not heed the wisdom of God. We bless God with our lips and curse Him with our actions.
O that we would listen to the Lord. The blessings could hardly be contained.
est me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
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