Can I see who God really is beyond who I have been trained to see him as?
A song to our strong God! a shout to the God of Jacob!
Psalm 81v1
The word ‘strong’ is a trigger. It sets up how I look at the text. If I set aside the trigger, I allow the Lord to reveal himself.
Anthems from the choir, music from the band, sweet sounds from lute and harp … it’s festival day, a feast to God!
Psalm 81v2-3
The ‘strong’ trigger demands respect. Here, there is a festival. God calls us to celebrate the joy of being with him. This is a call of love.
I hear this most gentle whisper from One I never guessed would speak to me:
Psalm 81v5
The trigger expects power and authority. God in his love encourages with a gentle whisper.
“I took the world off your shoulders, freed you from a life of hard labor”.
Psalm 81v6
The trigger demands my strength. This God of love takes the world off my shoulders. Instead of being a taskmaster, God wants to free me from the burdens I have so willingly taken on.
“Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now? Israel, will you follow my map? … You’ll feast on my fresh-baked bread spread with butter and rock-pure honey.”
Psalm 81v13-16
As I let go of my training and go with God as he reveals himself, he takes the load and we feast together on what he provides.
How does the God who speaks to you differ from the one you expect?
Photo by Thiago Matos