June 5, 2026 - Psalms 81-85

Asaph recounted some of Israel’s history, writing:  “In distress you called, and I [God] delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.  Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!  O Israel, if you would but listen to me!  There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.  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” (81:7-10).  God had proven himself and his faithfulness to Israel, over and over again.  Israel had every reason in the world to listen to God’s direction and to follow him; yet, they bowed down to foreign gods.  Still, God patiently called out to them, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”  That is, if they would only listen and follow, how great would be their blessings!  But they stubbornly turned away from God to worthless idols.  The wise person listens to God and heeds his direction.  Solomon counsels, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” (Proverbs 1:5).  And Jesus teaches, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

O My people, hear My pleadings;

O that thou wouldst hearken now;

No strange worship shalt thou offer,

Nor to idols shalt thou bow.

I am God the Lord Who saved thee,

And from cruel bondage freed;

Open wide thy mouth of longing;

I will satisfy thy need.

If My people would obey Me,

Gladly walking in My ways,

Soon would I, their foes subduing,

Fill their lips with songs of praise.   –Darius Jones (1851)