Message Notes

SSS 4 23 July 2023
Book 3
Psalms 73-89

Text: Psalm 81

To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.

3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.

4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob.

5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,
When He went throughout the land of Egypt,
Where I heard a language I did not understand.

6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden;
His hands were freed from the baskets.

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!
O Israel, if you will listen to Me!

9 There shall be no foreign god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

10 I am the LORD your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;

11 “But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have none of Me.

12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.

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 adversaries.

15 The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him,
But their fate would endure forever.

16 He would have fed them also with [e]the finest of wheat;
And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

Psalm 81:1-16

RELIGIOUS FEAST DAYS

1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.

3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.

4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob.

Psalm 81:1-4

1. An Example of a Religious Feast Day

a) New Moon

b) Full Moon

2. Worship to be offered to God

a) He is the God of our strength

b) He is the God of Jacob

c) He is to be worshipped joyfully

i) Raise a song

ii) Strike the timbrel

iii) Blow the trumpet

3. The Regard for the Holy Days

a) A statute for Israel

b) A law of the God of Jacob

THE LORD IS ESPECIALLY REMEMBERED IN THESE RELIGIOUS FEAST DAYS

5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,
When He went throughout the land of Egypt,
Where I heard a language I did not understand.

6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden;
His hands were freed from the baskets.

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Psalm 81:5-7

1. The Passover Feast is in mind

a) This was a Feast that was established

b) This was a Testimony of what God did when Israel was in Egypt

i) Israel had to learn the Egyptian language

ii) He had a great burden to bear on his shoulders

iii) There were many baskets to carry

2. The children of Israel had called upon the LORD

3. The LORD had responded

a) He delivered Israel

b) He answered mightily (“thunder”

c) God also tested Israel at Meribah (Numbers 20)

SORROW OVER A STUBBORN NATION

8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!
O Israel, if you will listen to Me!

9 There shall be no foreign god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

10 I am the LORD your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;

11 “But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have none of Me.

12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.

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 adversaries.

15 The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him,
But their fate would endure forever.

16 He would have fed them also with [e]the finest of wheat;
And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

Psalm 81:8-16

1. God’s Reminder

No foreign gods (idols) Psalm 81:9

2. A Vital Truth

I am the LORD your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt Psalm 81:10

3. The Stubborness of Israel

a) Refusal to heed

But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have none of Me.

Psalm 81:11

b) God gave them up to their stubborn ways

So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.

Psalm 81:12

c) Pretended submission

The haters of the LORD would pretend submission to Him,
But their fate would endure forever

Psalm 81:15

WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE DONE

1. Subduing of enemies

I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.

Psalm 81:14

2. Provision from the LORD

He would have fed them also with [e]the finest of wheat;
And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

Psalm 81:16