Today’s passage: Psalm 81
Helpful thoughts:
- This psalm was for the Feast of Tabernacles, the celebration of the exodus from Egypt.
- God showed His sovereign power in a foreign land. The gods of Egypt could not compete with Him. This was one of many reasons it made no sense for Israel to be worshiping false gods from foreign nations.
- When God allows man to do the wrong their sinful hearts desire, that in and of itself is judgment. (Verse 12)
- Romans 1:18-32 echoes this idea. Sin requires judgment and sin is judgment.
Questions to consider:
- In what way can Israel’s freedom from Egypt (and then their turning back to Egypt years later for protection) picture for us the idea of a Christian, saved from our sin, turning back to sin? Why doesn’t it make any sense for us to continue in sin?
- Should the fact that we do still sin cause us to simply be OK with that? Why should we continue to strive for righteousness as we live in the mercy and grace of God?
- How can verse 10 be a key to successful repentance? What is God calling His people to do? Are we going to muscle through these struggles on our own? Who is our champion against sin?