Walk Of Life – Day 29, October 2022 – Thoughts From The Book Of Psalms
Psalm 81 – Gathering God’s People To Listen And Obey
This Psalm of Asaph is addressed to the Chief Musician to be played on the instrument of Gittith. This psalm was written for the festive season of the Feast of Tabernacles where the people of Israel would gather at the temple to celebrate and remember their God who freed them from the bondage of slavery out of Egypt. The Jews take the branches of palm, willow and other leafy trees and make a temporary shelter to live in it for seven days to remember that they once lived in temporary homes and to thank God for settling them in the promised land. Leviticus 23:40-43
God instructed, trained and tested his people in the desert so that the remnant who would enter the promised land would live a righteous life. He satisfied them with the finest fruits of the land and settled them in their new homes. When they were comfortable, they started following their own ways and forgot to follow God’s statues. Through this psalm, Asaph wants to tell us that gathering to remember how God saved his people and all the traditional celebrations related to it out ways an obedient heart that God desires from his people.
As Christians we too gather every Sunday to worship, but over a period of time Christian faith and devotion towards God has become a tradition and people seem to be worshipping the gods of the secular culture – gods of wealth, pleasure, fame, status, and self-absorption. God wants you to remember that He is your Jehovah-Jireh, and He will provide anything you need if you ask for it. Walking in your own counsel without understanding God’s will for your life will lead to divine displeasure and the heaviest punishment of disobedience will affect your household.
Rather be attentive, listen and wait on the Lord to be satisfied with his blessings. When the mother-bird brings food she never has to ask the little ones to open their mouths wide, her only difficulty is to fill the great width which they are quite sure to present to her. Just like their appetite and eagerness are never lacking, you should also not stop asking God what you want and when you have asked, you should trust and wait for your Provider to give it to you at the right time. Not believing in his promises and trying to gain things with human wisdom will give you only a handful but not what God is capable of giving you.
As did the LORD spoke to his children through Asaph, He is asking you now, “If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Verse 13-16.
