23.243 | Open Your Mouth Wide, And I Will Fill It | Psalms 81:1-16 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word for Today

11 Oct 2023

-Psa 81:1-16 ESV

OPEN YOUR MOUTH WIDE, AND I WILL FILL IT. 

This song is sung annually at the Feast of Tabernacles as their tradition. (see Lev 23:33-36;39-43) This begins with a reminder of God’s command to keep this as a joyous festival. [v.1-3]

Sing aloud to God our strength;

    shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,

    the sweet lyre with the harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

    at the full moon, on our feast day.

This is in remembrance of his goodness in saving his people from slavery in Egypt (v.4-5).

4 For it is a statute for Israel,

    a rule of the God of Jacob.

5 He made it a decree in Joseph

    when he went out over the land of Egypt.

I hear a language I had not known:

The psalmist recounts how God has lifted the burden of slavery from the backs of his people and preserved and provided them as they journeyed through the wilderness (v.6-7). 

6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;

    your hands were freed from the basket.

7 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. Selah

And when they were at Mount Sinai,  He gave them his law. He pledged to bless them fully if they were faithful to him (v.8-10). Indeed, in every privilege, there is a corresponding responsibility to fulfill.

8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

9 There shall be no strange god among you;

    you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

10 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.

In verse 10, the imagery of a hungry birdling opening its mouth wide as the mother bird feeds it. This humble dependence and trust should be their response before God. There is a blessing to the obedient child of God.

But their stubborn disobedience prevented them from receiving God’s blessing (v.11-12). 

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;

    Israel would not submit to me.

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,

    to follow their own counsels.

One of the worst consequences in disobeying God is being left alone to oneself, unprotected and vulnerable to the enemy.

Despite their rebellion, God reaches out to them. He desires his to repent and turn unto Him and bless them once more. (v.13-16).

13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,

    that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies

    and turn my hand against their foes.

15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,

    and their fate would last forever.

16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,

    and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Indeed, He alone can give them protection, provision and pleasure of life. Nobody else. They may run away from God but He would run after them and win their hearts again unto Himself. This is grace in action.

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