Psalm 81
A Call to Obedience
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Intro
Psalm 81 reflects a communal celebration of God's saving acts, paired with a lament over Israel's disobedience. The Psalm invites us to understand the importance of obedience to God's law, which finds its ultimate realization in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Section 1: Call to Worship (vs. 1-5)
"Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. He made it a decree in Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a language I had not known."
Harmony
The call to worship God reminds us of the New Testament's encouragement to constantly praise God (Ephesians 5:19-20). It also points towards the perfect obedience of Jesus, who completely fulfilled the law and worshipped God wholeheartedly.
Talking Points
The importance of joyful worship as a response to God's saving acts.
The obedience to God's statutes as exemplified by Jesus.
The connection between worship and obedience in our relationship with God.
Questions
How does the call to worship in this Psalm inspire us in our own worship practices?
How can we learn from Jesus' example of obedience and worship?
How does our worship reflect our obedience to God?
Section 2: God's Desire for Obedience (vs. 6-10)
"I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I 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."
Harmony
God's longing for His people's obedience prefigures Christ's perfect obedience to the Father's will (John 6:38), setting an example for us to follow. Moreover, the promise of God to fill the open mouth resonates with Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit who will guide and nourish us spiritually (John 14:26).
Talking Points
God's consistent desire for our obedience, modeled by Christ.
The promise of spiritual nourishment when we seek God, reflected in Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit.
The dangers of idolatry and the call to serve God alone.
Questions
What does Jesus' obedience to the Father teach us about our own relationship with God?
How does the promise of God to "fill" us relate to the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
How can we guard ourselves against modern forms of idolatry?
Section 3: Consequences of Disobedience (vs. 11-16)
"But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
Harmony
The tragic consequences of disobedience highlight the importance of Christ's obedient life, death, and resurrection, which offers salvation to all who believe in Him (Romans 5:19). The promise of being fed with the finest wheat and honey from the rock points to the spiritual sustenance provided by Jesus, the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
Talking Points
The serious implications of disobedience to God.
The blessings that follow obedience, as seen in Jesus' perfect obedience.
The promise of spiritual nourishment from God, fulfilled in Christ.
Questions
How can we better heed God's call to obedience in our daily lives?
In what ways does Jesus' obedience offer a solution to the disobedience depicted in the Psalm?
How does Jesus, as the Bread of Life, fulfill the promise of spiritual nourishment?
Summary
Psalm 81 presents a compelling call to worship and obedience, reminding us of the dire consequences of disobedience. The Psalm echoes the themes of the New Testament, highlighting the perfect obedience of Jesus who fulfills the law and shows us the way to live in accordance with God's will.
The Psalm's call to worship reverberates in the New Testament's instructions to continually praise God, a practice perfected by Jesus in His unwavering devotion. Similarly, God's longing for obedience is fully satisfied in Christ, who obediently followed the Father's will, setting a model for us to emulate.
The dire consequences of disobedience underscore the grace extended to us through Christ, who, through His obedient life, death, and resurrection, offers redemption. The Psalm's promise of divine provision finds its fulfillment in Jesus, the Bread of Life, who offers lasting spiritual nourishment.
Thus, Psalm 81 invites us to a deeper understanding of worship and obedience, while highlighting the fulfillment of these concepts in the person and work of Jesus Christ.