Psalm 81 & 82: God Is Our Strength
Verse of the Day: (81:1) Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
1. God Is Our Strength (81:1-9)
Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah. (81:7)
Asaph, the prophet and musician, reminded Israel to sing praises to the Almighty God for His strength amid their weaknesses. Like a choir director, Asaph would joyfully lead the people in playing the musical instruments, the likes of timbrel, psaltery and trumpet, singing with joy and gladness, and praising God for who He is, and what He had done for, with, in and through them. Asaph reminded them of God’s grace, as though they murmured and complained against Moses in the wilderness that there was no water for them, which was actually the result of their unbelief and rebellion against God, yet God through Moses still graciously gave them water from the rock as He commanded Moses to strike it. That place was called Meribah where Israel failed God’s test, yet He still gave them water. (Exodus 17:1-7) Let us not test God’s grace, but truly trust and obey Him. Like Sara, who trusted God for His strength to conceive her son, Isaac, with Abraham, her husband, when both were already past the conceiving age, let us also through faith in God receive His strength to do the impossible for Him, and His glory. (Hebrews 11:11-19)
2. God Is Our Satisfaction (81:10-16)
He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. (81:16)
God through Asaph reprimanded Israel that if they would have feared and called upon Him, He would have richly satisfied and fed them with the finest wheat and honey from the rock, and gave them victory over their enemies, but instead time and again, they disobeyed and rebelled against Him, even until today. Let us therefore truly fear and call upon God, as He is able not only to satisfy our deepest need and desire, but to grant us victory over all our challenges, as He is our Saviour and Satisfaction. (Psalm 145:16-21)
3. God Is Our Stand (82:1-8)
God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. (82:1)
The Almighty God through prophet Asaph warned Israel, and even the people today, that one day, He shall judge all men and women for our belief and conviction. Those who believe and trust in God shall be blessed as His children of the most High, and one day to be with Him in glorious heaven, while those who doubt and reject Him shall be judged and punished in fiery hell together with the devil and his demons. Let us truly believe in God, and stand fast in Him, never waver even amid crises and challenges, as He who calls us, shall surely help us go through this life now and forever. (1 Thessalonians 3:8-13)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please give me strength and satisfaction when I am weak and stressed.
