For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 81

1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
    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 Feast;
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 for ever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.’

A. Find Out:

1. What does the psalmist cal for his readers to do? v.1-3
2. Why? v.4,5
3. What had the Lord done? v.6,7
4. What two things does the Lord call His people to do? v.8,9
5. What had he done, what did they do, so how did He respond? v.10-12
6. What would the Lord do for them if they would but listen? v.13-16

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise verses 1 to 5?
2. How would you summarise verses 6 to 12?
3. How would you summarise verses 13 to 16?

C. Comment:

The psalmist starts with a CALL TO WORSHIP. It is a call to sing and shout (v.1) to make music (v.2) and to celebrate on the special days of the year (v.3). That is the simple opening of the psalm. Then he gives the reason to do this: because worship was a decree that god had given Israel (v.4) when they had started to get ready to come out of Egypt (v.5). Worship reminds us who God is!

Then the psalm comes with a prophetic reminder as the Lord speaks and reminds us that it had been He who had come and set them free from Egypt (v.6) and dealt with them in the wilderness (v.7). There is a CALL TO REJECT IDOLATRY (v.9) that is the other side of the coin of reminding them that it was He who had brought them out of Egypt (v.10). Worship of God alone keeps us from idolatry.

He reminds them of their INABILITY TO LISTEN to Him (v.11) which was why He had said, fine, go your own ways if that is what you choose. This is followed by the FRUIT OF LISTENING to Him (v.13) – their enemies being defeated (v.14,15) and there being abundance of provision in the land (v.16). Obedience has very practical outworkings. The psalmists call to worship therefore acts as a reminder of who the Lord is, keeps us from idolatry and encourages our obedience which opens the way for blessing. Hallelujah!

D. Application:

1. Worship with heart and mind – emotions and content.
2. Let worship change you.