DCLM Higher Everyday 3 March 2024 — God’s Desire, Our Duty
Topic: God’s Desire, Our Duty
Text: Psalm 81:10-16
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Key Verse: “Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries” (Psalm 81:13).
Message
God reveals Himself in this short passage as the great I AM who delivers and supplies the need of His people, Israel. God has a desire to bless us but we must do our duty. The quote encapsulates His desire to fight their battles and satisfy them with the most nourishing meals. But Israel would not do their duty. Rather, they willfully despised the outstanding provision; refused His counsel and suffered unnecessarily at the hand of their enemies. We suffer when we reject divine counsel. “Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.”
Those who neglect God’s commandments are sure to miss His blessings. They want to continue lusting after evil things and still enjoy the provisions of God for His righteous people. Youths who disregard God’s counsels sow to the wind and will reap the whirlwind. God calls all people to enter His fellowship and blessedness. All His creatures are duty-bound to live for Him. Submit to Him and enjoy His blessings.
Quote: Submit to Him and enjoy His blessings
Challenge: We suffer when we reject divine counsels.
Prayer for today: Lord, give me a submissive heart
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
