Awaken to Worship
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Psalm 81:1 (CSB)
Psalm 81 includes the invitation to worship the Lord because of His power and provision. The people of Israel receive the call to remember the work of the Lord as He delivered them and to respond with proper gratitude and praise. The Psalmist encourages the people to abandon their sin, repent, and reclaim the covenant with the Lord. The same call to remember and awaken to worship exists today.
Worship God’s Faithfulness (1-5). The Psalmist urges the followers of the Lord to worship. He calls on people to worship because the Lord is faithful. He is devoted to His people and walks alongside them. He is true to His promises and fulfills them. When we remember the faithfulness of the Lord, our hearts should become responsive through the act of worship. This worship is both an activity and a lifestyle.
Remember God’s Work of Deliverance (6-10). The Lord worked in the life of Israel by delivering them from the hand of Egypt. This deliverance included the constant victories achieved as the children journeyed to the Promised Land. The remembrance of this work of deliverance fueled a response of worship toward the Lord. When we recall our deliverance that comes through salvation by faith in Christ alone, we must allow that remembrance and experience of deliverance to inspire our worship. It should propel us to worship as an activity and encourage us to embrace worship as a lifestyle.
Hear And Respond To The Invitation (11-16). The Psalmist speaks to the disobedience of Israel that led to their punishment. The Psalmist uses this as a mechanism to demonstrate the need to hear the Word of the Lord and to respond to the calling that comes from the Lord. It is never enough to merely hear the Word of the Lord and fail to respond with faithfulness and obedience. The children of Israel knew the truth but failed to follow in obedience and faithfulness. As a result, the people faced moments of wandering and difficulty. Today, we must hear the calling of the Lord and respond faithfully.
QUESTIONS
How would you explain the experience of deliverance as a catalyst to worship?
How are you responding to the calling and commands of the Lord? Are you seeking to obey and follow, or do you know and ignore?
