God’s Guiding Word: Spiritual Renewal
Introduction
Psalm 81: Today’s reading is a psalm that originally may have been used at the New Moon festival. The psalm recalls God’s saving acts throughout Israel’s history and concludes with a call to listen to God.
Today’s Key Verse: Psalm 81:10b
[God says:] Open your mouth, and I will feed you.
Reading
81 Shout for joy to God our defender;
sing praise to the God of Jacob!
2 Start the music and beat the tambourines;
play pleasant music on the harps and the lyres.
3 Blow the trumpet for the festival,
when the moon is new and when the moon is full.
4 This is the law in Israel,
an order from the God of Jacob.
5 He gave it to the people of Israel
when he attacked the land of Egypt.
I hear an unknown voice saying,
6 “I took the burdens off your backs;
I let you put down your loads of bricks.
7 When you were in trouble, you called to me, and I saved you.
From my hiding place in the storm, I answered you.
I put you to the test at the springs of Meribah.
8 Listen, my people, to my warning;
Israel, how I wish you would listen to me!
9 You must never worship another god.
10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out of Egypt.
Open your mouth, and I will feed you.
11 “But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not obey me.
12 So I let them go their stubborn ways
and do whatever they wanted.
13 How I wish my people would listen to me;
how I wish they would obey me!
14 I would quickly defeat their enemies
and conquer all their foes.
15 Those who hate me would bow in fear before me;
their punishment would last forever.
16 But I would feed you with the finest wheat
and satisfy you with wild honey.”
Reflect
Trumpets were blown on the first day of every month, which began with the “new moon” (verse 3). Special sacrifices were offered on this day. Reread verses 1–3. How are the people to begin the festival? What saving acts of God are recalled (verses 6–7)? What warning is given (verses 8–9)? Verse 10 references the beginning of the Ten Commandments and God’s covenant relationship with the people (see Exodus 20:1–17; Deuteronomy 5:1–21). Reread verses 11–16. What is promised to those who listen to and obey God?
Pray
Sovereign God, you are my defender, and I thank and praise you for your mighty acts of deliverance. Teach me to listen to and obey your voice and to feed daily on your Word. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Psalm 84: A psalm celebrating the joy of worship.