Remembering God Alone Satisfies
Every year the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles in Autumn as a memorial to God, remembering when they lived in “tabernacles” in the wilderness. This national feast was a time of rejoicing and celebration for the people. This celebration would include Psalm 81.
This psalm is a call to rejoice and worship the Lord, remembering God’s merciful deliverance of his chosen people (1-5). This festival, an ordinance established by God, was an opportunity for the people to come before Him and worship Him with “singing,” and “shouting” (1-2). Brethren, Christ Jesus has given His church ordinances as well, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. They are given to Christ’s church to celebrate His grace and deliverance from sin, through the sacrificial work of Jesus.
As a reminder to the people, the Lord admonishes them, telling them they are too often stubborn and idolatrous (6-10). He “relieved their burden,” He “rescued” them, He “answered them,” He “tested” them, and He “admonished” them (6-8). God tell the people that if they reject false gods and cling to Him, He will satisfy them fully (9-10). Brethren, as Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 10, like the Israelites, we too can become discontented with what the Lord has provided and turn to idols.
God’s discipline of His people is to let them have all that their hearts desired. They stubbornly choose to fulfil their sinful desires, and their iniquity left them in ruins. They chose to reject God’s word and all they reaped heartache and trouble (11-15).
Obedience to God’s word brings blessings and disobedience brings discipline (11-16). The worst judgement of God is to give someone over to their own pride and sin; a wasted life without restraint, seeking satisfaction in vain things. Brethren, only Christ truly satisfies, obey Him (16).