Psalms 81:1-16
Israel is invited to sing as they had formerly done on the banks of the Red Sea, accompanied by the timbrel (v. 2; Exodus 5:20). But after the deliverance from Egypt, recalled in v. 6, the LORD still had many great things to do for the blessing of His people . . . if they had been ready to listen to Him. He was ready, for instance, to nourish them with the finest of the wheat (fine flour always speaks of Christ), as well as the honey from the rock, picture of the sweetness of divine mercy. But God is obliged to say sadly: "Israel would none of me . . ." (v. 11). How moving is His exclamation: "O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me" (v. 8) and further on: "Oh that my people had hearkened unto me!" (v. 13; cf. Deuteronomy 5:29). Dear fellow believers, God has also relieved our shoulders from the most oppressive of burdens: that of sin (v. 6). But are you aware that He still has many other blessings in store for us . . . provided we have the desire to receive them and that we listen to His Word? He has prepared victories for us (v. 14); He wants to feed us on Christ and His love. Let us open our hearts to Him; He will fill them and His praise will be in our mouths (cf. v. 10).