A curved ram’s horn lying on a stone ledge in the blue dusk, a full moon just rising behind low hills, the sky above plain and empty.

Praise · Asaph

Psalm 81

It starts as a party. Then God breaks into the song with what He has wanted to say.

16 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom fallsPsalm 81
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

Sing for Joy to God Our Strength

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

For this is a statute for Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph

when he went out over the land of Egypt,

where I heard an unfamiliar language:

God

The rising mud-brick walls of a store city beside the Nile at evening, earthen ramps crowded with tiny laborers carrying baskets, rounded granaries behind and an overseer’s raised stick in the foreground.

“I relieved his shoulder of the burden;

his hands were freed from the basket.

You called out in distress, and I rescued you;

I answered you from the cloud of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Selah

Hear, O My people, and I will warn you:

O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

There must be no strange god among you,

nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

0:27

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

God

Three hungry nestlings in a small grass nest in a limestone cleft, their beaks wide open, no parent bird in the frame.

I am the LORD your God,

who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth,

and I will fill it.

Reflect

Open wide

“Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.” What have you stopped asking God for? Write it down, and ask again.

God

God

But My people would not listen to Me,

and Israel would not obey Me.

So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts

to follow their own devices.

God

If only My people would listen to Me,

if Israel would follow My ways,

how soon I would subdue their enemies

and turn My hand against their foes!

Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience,

and their doom would last forever.

God

If only My people would listen to Me

God

Ripe heads of wheat standing against a pale limestone outcrop, with wild honeycomb glistening in a cleft of the rock.

But I would feed you the finest wheat;

with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Pray

Listen

Tell God where you have stopped listening. Ask Him to turn your heart, and to feed you again with what only He can give.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 81

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10

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