Title Psalm 81 (2010.9.2)
Contents
Title: As God Wants
Main text: (Psalm 81:1~16)
Hymns: 549. as my lord will
Date: September 2nd, 2010 (Thursday) 5 am
Venue: Jeonju Yebut Church Small Worship Room
In today's text (verse 8), "I want you to listen to me, O Israel." And also in (verse 13), "If my people Israel had only listened to me, if only they would go in the way I had to go." According to the words of today's text, we want to share grace while pondering what God wants.
What does God want of us?
First, He wants to hear the word of God (verse 8).
David confessed, 'The word of God is sweeter than honey in a cluster.' There is a background to the saying that the word is sweeter than honey in a cluster. The Israelites thoroughly teach and learn the Word of God in their homes. On the Sabbath, I go to the synagogue and study hard. After the teacher has taught, ask the student. If you answer well, I will give you a honey cookie. Students who do not answer will not be able to eat sweets. At that time, how sweet and delicious the honey cookie is. At first, because of the honey cookie, we listen intently to the Word of God and learn. Then, when I came to taste the word of God, it was said that the word was sweeter than honey cakes. Because the Word speaks like that, I try not to miss a single word, put it in my ear, chew the cud, interpret it, receive grace from it, and meet God. That is exactly what God wants.
The words 'I want you to hear me, O Israel' means that God tells the people of Israel to listen to me, that is, to listen. It means to chew the cud. The next thing to do is to discern the meaning of the word carefully. In other words, it means to study the Word thoroughly. Because there is grace, life, and the blessing of meeting God.
Second, He wants you to open your mouth wide toward God (verses 10-11).
Did God tell the people of Israel that your ancestors were slaves in the land of Egypt because of their merits when they left Egypt? Did you guys win the battle and escape from Egypt? Was it not entirely by God's grace? And when they passed through the wilderness, did your ancestors lack anything in that wilderness, where they could not find a grain of rice or a sip of water even with a nugget of gold? God, who has led you in this way, says to you, ‘Open your mouth wide. I will feed you as much as you want.” This means that God knows and knows the needs of His chosen people all too well. He said that he would fill his mouth as wide as he could. This means to pray. The content of the text is that if you pray with your mouth wide open, it will be filled, but you did not listen, so I have left you to do as you please. If you don't want to hear what I'm told to open your mouth wide, stop. Then God will leave you alone. But for those who open their mouths wide or wide, God will fill them with the most exactness they need.
Third, He wants us to act according to the Word of God (verses 13-14).
In today's text, God tells us not to end our faith with words, but to express it through actions. That is why He is pleased and wants the faith expressed through our actions. However, there are those who believe in our words. Now, believing in words alone is meaningless. We must show our faith through our actions. God wants it. For those who believe in actions like this, God said, 'I would have subdued their enemies right away, and I would have raised my hand to strike them.' He even gave them a tag of blessing. God wants us to believe in action.
What God wants is to hear the first word. It is because there is grace, life, and meeting God. Second, you want to open your mouth wide. Because God knows exactly what we lack and what we need. Fill it as much as you open your mouth. Third, He wants us to act according to His Word. It is not to end the life of faith with words, but to show faith through actions. Because faith without works is dead faith.