Read Psalm 81
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph.
1 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.”
Go Deeper
When life gets overwhelming, it can be hard to remember how big our God is and how He will watch over and protect us. It seems as though our battles are too big for our God, that He cannot shine through the darkness that surrounds us. However, in Psalm 81:10-16, the author, Asaph, reminds us of how our God can fight our battles as long as we listen and trust in Him.
Whether it is financial struggles, academic struggles, or hardships with family and friends, the Lord tells us He will provide for us, as long as we submit to Him and know He is Lord. In verse 7, the Lord reminds us that He will provide and rescue us whenever we call out in distress, just like He delivered His people from Pharaoh in Egypt (v. 10). The Lord is good, and wants to provide us with the blessing of taking our burdens and fighting for us.
However, in verses 13 and 14, he advises us to listen to God and seek Him through our struggles. In doing so, He will overcome our enemies and bear the burden we face alongside us. How often do we only give up the battles to God we think He can handle, rather than fully submitting to Him and giving Him everything? In our generation, we tend to crave control over every situation, causing our belief in Him to fight our biggest battles to diminish. However, this psalm proves that those who submit to Him with everything will be satisfied by how He combats our struggles (v. 16). Not only will He fight on your behalf in a general sense, but will help you overcome the specific sin struggle with which you’re wrestling since He satisfies us with His love and provision.
As you step into today, be reminded that the Lord is fighting for you every step of the way, through every battle and hardship. Submit fully to Him and trust that His provision on your life will satisfy you always. Seek Him and listen to His instruction through your everyday interactions and quiet time. He is working even when it feels difficult to believe it. Our battles may be too big for us to handle, but when giving everything to Him, He fights for us, knowing exactly what we need and fulfilling our lives in every way.
Questions
- What is one area in your life you want to see God transform?
- How have you submitted to Him in the past week?
- What is one characteristic of God that you need to remember today?
Pray This
Dear Lord,
Thank you for all you have done in our lives. Thank you for always remaining our rock in the hard times and reminding us of your faithfulness throughout the Bible. As we take on today, help us to keep our eyes on you, submitting everything we have to you. Let us give over all our troubles, as you prove yourself faithful and a loving Father. We love all you are doing in our lives and are grateful you sent your son to die on the cross so that we may have a relationship with you! In Jesus name, Amen.
Leave a Comment Below
Join the Team
Interested in writing for the Bible Reading Plan? Email [email protected].
7 responses to “Psalm 81”
Going through storms can be difficult especially certain times of the year. We tend to forget about God want to do things on our own and do worst things which causes storms to worsen. But we gotta continue to talk to God about what where going through. Continue to pray ask him to give you the strength, have faith and trust in him. We cant go through storms on our own.
Like me right now for example. I lost my Dad in 2022 and this year fathers day is the 21st my birthday is literally the day after the 22nd. I get emotional I go through struggles each and every year since then. But I continue to put my faith and trust in God that he’s going to get me through it and he will. That’s a fact not an option but a fact. When you lose a friend out of ur life whether it was ur fault there fault both y’all’s fault whatever case may be. Don’t be angry hold grudges pray for them ask God to watch over them. Pray you can move on from them pray you can move on from heartbreak and that he’ll continue to walk with you through the storm. He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. In Philippians 4:13 it’s mentioned with God all things are possible nothing is impossible with God. In other words there’s nothing to big or to small he’s always there. No matter what sin you’ve done how bad ur past was whatever the case is he will always be there for you. He’s there with you In ur past the present and the future. God loves you he is in control. To God be the glory.
Thanks for sharing, Daniel, praying for you.
Your welcome and thank you as well
Amen! God be with you, Daniel!
Perspective
Seeing this chapter through the perspective of viewing myself through God’s eyes.
8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you— if you would only listen to me, Israel!
Hear me, Amy, and I will warn you—if you would only listen to me, Amy
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.
I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of a life full of iniquity. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me.
But Amy, you would not listen to me and would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
So I gave you over to your stubborn heart to follow your 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!
Amy, if you would only listen to me, and follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue and turn my hand against your foes.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
We blame God when things do not happen how, when or what we think should be happening. BUT GOD has had plans for me and you from the beginning. We thwart those plans by doing our own thing. We do what we shouldnt do because we want to, even when or even if God speaks or show us. We are stubborn and follow our own devices. BUT GOD!!
God thank You for keeping me safe from my own self. God thank You for all the ways I dont even know You have kept me from harms way. God thank You for showing now in this season how to follow You more whole heartedly. I feel so adrift. God help me to listen to You so that Your ways are inherently better than mine. God thank You for the finest wheat and honey from a rock that only You can satisfy with. God continue to guide my steps. Give me wisdom and understanding for this day, these minutes of this day that all I say and do will be glorifying to You. Thank You God for loving me in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Open wide your mouth and I will fill it” (v10).
Instead of clinching our jaws or gritting our teeth in stubbornness, God instructs that we open our mouths and give him praise. (Somewhere along the way we forget God’s benefits.) This was actually a statute/command/ordinance/decree given God’s chosen people. God invites us to shift our burdens onto him and the vehicle he gave us is praise. Today may we “put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”
1 Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
I’m called to sing. I’m called to be joyful! I’m called to shout!
My disposition needs to better reflect my love of God!