Definite Desire For Deliverance

Topic: Deliverance
Passage: Psalms 81:1–16

December 11, 2019

Commentary

This psalm is more concerned with the deliverance from Egypt than with thanksgiving for an abundant harvest. As the psalmist traces the Exodus he passes quickly to the wilderness trials which was a test. In this chapter we can learn some valuable lessons from rebellious Israel:

  1. Return to God (vv. 1-5) – Have you ever heard someone say, “I wish I could have a new start! If only I could start all over again!” What a terrible experience life would be if it were not possible for us to have a fresh start. The trumpet sound in this psalm is the sound of a new beginning (v. 3). However, if we start again without God, we will make the same mistakes all over again. The only good start is to start with God.
  2. Reflect on God’s Deliverance (vv 6,7) – God does not need armies and alliances to bring a nation to its knees. He has His own weapons such as flies, frogs, boils, blood, lice, locusts, darkness and death. He took Israel out of the house of bondage. Certainly the nation should have never ceased to be grateful to God for this great salvation.
  3. Reject false Gods (vv. 8,9) – God claims first place in our hearts. Putting anything in His place is a form of idol worship. Yet Israel gave itself over almost wholly to idol worship.
  4. Reach out in prayer (v. 10) – In this verse we see the God of past redemption, “who brought you up from the land of Egypt” (v. 10) and the God of future blessing, open your mouth wide and I will fill it (v. 10). This was a favorite verse of George Mueller. He clothed and housed thousands of orphans, and yet did not ask man for money; he just asked God.
  5. Recognize the consequences of Disobedience (vv. 11-16) – Stubborn disobedience always leads to failure (vv. 11,12). Repentance and obedience always leads to victory (vv. 13,14).

Application

On a scale of 1-10 I need to ask how I honestly rate in fulfilling the five points listed above?

Psalms 81:1– 16 (NET)

1 Shout for joy to God, our source of strength! Shout out to the God of Jacob!

2 Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant-sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument.

3 Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon, and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.

4 For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.

5 He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize.

6 It said: “I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket.

7 In your distress you called out and I rescued you. I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 I said, ‘Listen, my people! I will warn you. O Israel, if only you would obey me!

9 There must be no other god among you. You must not worship a foreign god.

10 I am the Lord, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.’

11 But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.

12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.

13 If only my people would obey me! If only Israel would keep my commands!

14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries.”

15 (May those who hate the Lord cower in fear before him. May they be permanently humiliated.)

16 “I would feed Israel the best wheat, and would satisfy your appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs.”