Psalms Reading – 3.18.2022
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.”
Psalm 82
A psalm of Asaph.
1 God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”:
2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”; you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler.”
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.
Psalm 81 begins on a joyful note, with five imperative verbs: sing, shout, begin, strike, and play. Overwhelming joy was to be the common expression of their worship. However, this psalm turns to reveal a sad reality as God speaks to the people in verses 6-16. God reminds them how he set their ancestors free in Egypt and provided for them along the way. If only, they would look to Him now and receive what He has for them. Because they refused to obey Him, He gave them over to their own devices. The worst kind of judgment is giving us what our rebellious hearts want. Even now, if God’s people would follow humble themselves and follow His ways, He would feed them the finest foods. Imagine what God will provide for us if only we will fully submit to His holy word and ways.
Like Psalm 81, Psalm 82 has a large section (verses 2-7) where God speaks. In 81, God spoke to the nation, in 82 God indicts the leaders because they have failed to do justice for the weak and needy. Instead, they have defended the very ones who perpetrate injustice. A common question in laments is, “How long?” Here, God asks that of the earthly “gods” or leaders. Leadership carries a hefty responsibility because it is not about elevating oneself but elevating others, especially, the needy.
Memory Verse: Psalm 80:3, Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
Question(s) to Consider: What specific message does God have for us, our leaders, and for me?