Don’t Miss Out.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 81

 

Psalm 81:13-14

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.

(ESV)

 

Anyone reading this who has children knows the frustration a parent feels when one of their children does not listen to them. This is especially true when we as a parent are warning them of the consequences of bad behavior that comes with dire consequences. Our heavenly father can also relate to this frustration when we who are His children do not listen and suffer for it with Him joining Asaph in asking “O Israel if you would but listen to me” (Psalm 81:8). The consequence of not listening to God is missing what God has for us.

 

Asaph begins this psalm with a call for God’s people to sing and shout for joy to the God of Jacob, their strength (Psalm 81:1), However, the praise does not stop there for Asaph also asks them to raise a song, sound the tambourine, and the sweet lyre with the harp (Psalm 81:2). They are also to blow the trumpet at the new and full moons as well as during the feast days for this is a statute of the Lord they are to listen to and obey (Psalm 81:3-4).

 

Asaph then reminds Israel of why they should sing, shout, play instruments, and blow the trumpet by reminding them of what God has done for them. It was the God to whom they are to offer praise and worship who delivered them of their bondage of slavery in Egypt (Psalm 81:5-6). When in the distress of slavery, God delivered them, answering them in the place of thunder, Mount Saini (Exodus 19:16), and testing them at the waters of Meribah (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:2-9; Psalm 81:7).

 

Asaph then admonishes God’s people to listen to God who has told them not to have any strange or foreign god among them for it is God and not these foreign gods who delivered them (Exodus 20:1-3; Psalm 81:8-10).

 

However, despite the deliverance of God in their lives, the people of God during the time of Asaph did not listen or submit to God (Psalm 81:11). Therefore, God has given Israel over to the stubbornness of their hearts that desire to follow their own counsel rather than the counsel of the Lord with the Lord frustrated at their refusal to listen (Psalm 81:12-13). Not listening to God had the consequence of Israel missing the good God had in store for them. God would subdue Israel’s enemies and turn His hand against their foes (Psalm 81:14). Those hating the Lord would cringe toward him with their fate lasting forever (Psalm 81:15). Israel would be fed with the finest of wheat and with honey from the rock, bringing them satisfaction (Psalm 81:16). This is what Israel missed by not listening.

 

The people of Israel are missing the blessings God has in store for them because they did not listen to God’s voice or submit to Him (Psalm 81:11-16). Israel is suffering from a serious form of amnesia that has forgotten how God has delivered them in the past. To bring Israel out of its amnesia, Asaph tries to trigger their memory by reminding them of their deliverance from the hard labor of their Egyptian bondage (Psalm 81:6-7). Israel also has forgotten the commandment not to have any other gods but the one true God (Exodus 20:1-3). The cure for Israel’s amnesia is in Psalm 81:1-3, offering praise to God including the blowing of the trumpet at the new and full moons as well as on the feast days in obedience to God. Obedience is the gateway to blessings from God.

 

Unfortunately, in the age of lukewarmness in the Church, some churches do not talk about sin any longer out of fear of offending someone. This is a gross disservice to people who are sinners for we all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and fails to tell them the true reason why Jesus came (Romans 5:8). Instead of stating the truth that Jesus came to die for humanity’s sins, they teach that Jesus is a spiritual Santa Clause who gives things to people if they will just believe. One of the favorite verses that support this prosperity gospel is Matthew 6:33 with seeking the kingdom of God viewed as one believing. However, believing is insufficient without obedience (Romans 1:5; 16:26). James put it another way when he said faith without works, works of obedience, is dead faith (James 2:20). The Church must disconnect from conformity to the world and be transformed through obedience to God’s word for it to be transformed and become a transforming force in an ungodly world (Romans 12:2).

 

The greatest act of obedience to God one can do is to make a profession of faith in Jesus as his or her savior. If you have never prayed to receive Jesus as your savior and receive forgiveness for your sins, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Congratulations to those who just prayed, taking the first step of obedience to God. I encourage each of you to find a Church teaching the Bible that is not afraid to speak out about sin so you can continue living in obedience to God and not miss what God has for each of you. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.