Today’s Reading: Psalm 81, 82 & 143
I heard an unknown voice say:
“I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.” – Psalm 81:5b-9
Father God, we recognize this morning that you have rescued us over and over again. Not only did you send your Son to walk this earth, knowing how your creation would treat its Creator, you continue to show mercy to this sinful world today. We called out to you and you rescued us; you answered our cries, responding to our needs and providing according to your wisdom and love.
“I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” – Psalm 81:10
OPEN WIDE YOUR MOUTH AND I WILL FILL IT.
This verse beautifully describes the heart of God. He wants to pour out His blessings on our lives; He desires to be generous with us. But we must cooperate with the Gift Giver; we must be open to all that God wants to do for us, in us and through us. We must quiet the chaos of life and find undistracted moments to listen for the voice of the Lord speaking to us.
“But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
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.” – Psalm 81:11-16
I WILL SATISFY YOU WITH HONEY FROM THE ROCK.
For most of my life, it has been a prayer of mine that my heart would mirror the desires of the Lord. I have repeatedly asked God to take away anything my heart desires that does not reflect what He desires for me and for those I love. I long to be satisfied with the honey provided by the Rock of Ages; I desire to be aligned with the heart of Jesus. I want my prayers for my own life to be unselfish, surrendered to all that God wants; I want my prayers for others to be directed by the thoughts of God.
“Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” – Psalm 82:3-4
These first two psalms we have looked at today were written by a musician named Asaph. Asaph was a Levite appointed by King David to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:4-5). Asaph’s calling was to attend to the needs of others, to praise the Lord enthusiastically, to lead God’s people in the expression of gratitude, and to lead the nation of Israel in the approval and admiration of the Lord.
I believe that Asaph’s calling matched the desire of his heart. I am convinced that worshiping God came naturally to the chief of temple worship — to the man appointed as the worship leader. Asaph wrote poetry and song lyrics, like King David, and the Israelites continued to use his words when they praised the Lord, just as we do today (2 Chronicles 29:30). He passed on his talents and his heart for worship to his descendents. They, too, became temple musicians and were known as the sons of Asaph (Ezra 2:41 & 3:10, Nehemiah 7:44).
OPEN WIDE YOUR HEART AND I WILL FILL IT.
I am so thankful that God did not leave us in the condition we were in when we surrendered our life to Him. God’s love for us is expressed in His willingness to fill us with His righteousness so that we can be made right with him, reflecting the righteousness of God through our actions and attitudes. God’s mercy is evidenced through the opportunities that He gives us, allowing us to be used by Him in the lives of others — the weak and the fatherless, the poor and the oppressed, the weak and the needy.
Lord, open our hearts and fill us with all that you desire. May our lives be a beautiful reflection of your unfailing love and great kindness. As we end one year and prepare for a new beginning, we ask that you would guide our lives. Give us direction each morning as we rest in your presence and soak in your words. May we be satisfied with the sweet honey you provide, and may we trust you with all that is ahead. Amen.
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you. – Psalm 143:8