Psalm 81:1-10 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 81:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
Verse 2Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
Verse 3Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day.
Verse 4For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
Verse 5He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known:
Verse 6"I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
Verse 7In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
Verse 8Hear, O my people, while I admonish you; O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
Verse 9There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
Verse 10I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
Devotion
As we continue to reflect this week on God’s gift of Sabbath Keeping, today’s psalm is a robust example of God’s Spirit offering to fill us deeply with memories of God’s life and love.
I love music; I sing boldly enough that some folks suggest that I join the Choir. Most Choir directors are not so easily misled. When John Ylvisaker’s “Borning Cry” is on the song list, my eyes mist and the familiar words catch in my heart; I sang it at my mom’s funeral. Like today’s psalm, it traces God’s loving activity in our lives—reminding us of who we can be, even in God’s tomorrow. “If you would but listen to me…I am the LORD your God…Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!” Through the words of the psalmist God offers a way to help us in our Sabbath Keeping by filling us with memories of God’s blessing and promises.
Prayer
Eternal Sabbath Keeper, fill us with your grace and your Spirit of song, and help us to continue to remember your love and promises. Amen.