(1) Overview
(NET) The psalmist calls God’s people to assemble for a festival and then proclaims God’s message to them. The divine speech (vv. 6–16) recalls how God delivered the people from Egypt, reminds Israel of their rebellious past, expresses God’s desire for his people to obey him, and promises divine protection in exchange for obedience.
(NET) v.3 The festival in view is probably the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths), which began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month when the moon was full. See Lev 23:34; Num 29:12.
(BKC) In the psalm Asaph summoned the people to the festival which God had ordained as a memorial to His great deliverance of them from bondage in Egypt. Using the witness of history, the writer declared that the Lord would turn their affliction away if they would obey Him.
(BKC) In the psalm Asaph summoned the people to the festival which God had ordained as a memorial to His great deliverance of them from bondage in Egypt. Using the witness of history, the writer declared that the Lord would turn their affliction away if they would obey Him.
(2) Structure
(EBC)
I. Festal Hymn (vv. 1–5)
II. Oracle of the Lord (6–16)
A. God’s Past Care (vv. 6–7)
B. Exhortation to Listen (vv. 8–10)
C. God’s Judgment on Rebellious Israel (vv. 11–12)
B′. Exhortation to Listen (v. 13)
A′. God’s Future Care (vv. 14–16)
(3) (Kel Ps) A. God commanded absolute allegiance to his authority over them as their redeemer
I. Festal Hymn (vv. 1–5)
II. Oracle of the Lord (6–16)
A. God’s Past Care (vv. 6–7)
B. Exhortation to Listen (vv. 8–10)
C. God’s Judgment on Rebellious Israel (vv. 11–12)
B′. Exhortation to Listen (v. 13)
A′. God’s Future Care (vv. 14–16)
(3) (Kel Ps) A. God commanded absolute allegiance to his authority over them as their redeemer
81:9 There must be no other god among you.
You must not worship a foreign god. 81:10 I am the LORD, your God,
the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!’
[open your mouth wide]=(BDAG) as a young bird to receive food (BKC) They should not turn to any foreign god because only He could satisfy them abundantly.
Reflection: The history of Egypt reminds them how God had delivered them from their hardship there v.6-7. They should have known better Who had satisfied them abundantly. God invited them to continue to do so and do not turn to idols. From your personal history, how did God make you satisfied? Are you tempted to leave Him and find other satisfaction? You will not find it.
Reflection: The history of Egypt reminds them how God had delivered them from their hardship there v.6-7. They should have known better Who had satisfied them abundantly. God invited them to continue to do so and do not turn to idols. From your personal history, how did God make you satisfied? Are you tempted to leave Him and find other satisfaction? You will not find it.
B. God reminded them how those people failed and were punished (11–12).
81:11 But my people did not obey me;
Israel did not submit to me.
81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires;
they did what seemed right to them.
Note, the worshipping of idols was described as a stubborn desire. God called them a stiff-necked people in Exodus 32:9b. A stiff-necked animal wants to go in a certain direction. Only when the owner pulled them would they move to a certain direction. When that pull is released they love to move back the way they were. Israelites mimicked the Egyptians and would not leave the idol-worshipping. That was something that "seemed right" to them.
Israel did not submit to me.
81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires;
they did what seemed right to them.
Note, the worshipping of idols was described as a stubborn desire. God called them a stiff-necked people in Exodus 32:9b. A stiff-necked animal wants to go in a certain direction. Only when the owner pulled them would they move to a certain direction. When that pull is released they love to move back the way they were. Israelites mimicked the Egyptians and would not leave the idol-worshipping. That was something that "seemed right" to them.
In what area are you stiff-necked?
What was the influence of the world that you buy in and seem so right to you that you are not willing to let go?
Audrey
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