Today’s Bulletin

OUTLINE

I. God’s People, Joyfully Sing Aloud To Yahweh! (v.1-5a)

[Worship]

II. God Has Delivered (v. 6-7)

[Remembering]

III. Open Your Mouth Wide! (v. 8-10)

[Obedience]

IV. Unrestrained Stubborn Hearts (v. 11-12)

[Consequences of Disobedience]

V. Walk In God’s Ways (v. 13-16)

[Restoration]

Psalm 81

Psalm 81:1–16 “1 Sing aloud to God our strength;

shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,

the sweet lyre with the harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,

a rule of the God of Jacob.

5 He made it a decree in Joseph

when he went out over the land of Egypt.

I hear a language I had not known:

6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;

your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;

I answered you in the secret place of thunder;

I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

9 There shall be no strange god among you;

you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

10 I am the LORD your God,

who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;

Israel would not submit to me.

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,

to follow their own counsels.

13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,

that Israel would walk in my ways!

14 I would soon subdue their enemies

and turn my hand against their foes.

15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,

and their fate would last forever.

16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,

and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.””

Shophar Horn

Phases Of The Moon

OUR HAPPINESS TO OBEY: PRAYER BY RICHARD BAXTER

You, O God, are our Sovereign King, to rule and judge us.
It is our duty and happiness to obey and please you.
May we labour therefore to bring our souls and bodies
into the most absolute subjection to you,
and to make it our delight and business s
incerely and exactly to obey your will.

May our obedience be practical, and not merely notional.
May our obedience be deep-rooted and fixed.
May our obedience be constant and continual.
May our obedience be universal, respecting all your laws.
May our obedience be resolute and powerful,
victorious against temptation.
May we respect you as our supreme King,
recognising no authority against you,
nor any except that which is subordinate to you.
May our obedience be voluntary, pleasant, cheerful.
May it be our delight to obey you to our utmost power.

Though obedience is so difficult for us, yet it is so reasonable, necessary, and good.
For we, we are unable and unfit to govern ourselves.
We are so blind and ignorant;
so biased by a corrupted will;
so turbulent are our passions;
so unable to protect and reward ourselves, that we should fear nothing in the world more, than to be given over to our stubborn hearts, to follow our own devices.

But you have perfect wisdom, to know what is best.
You have perfect goodness, with no evil in your laws.
You are almighty, to protect your subjects.
You are most just, and therefore can do no wrong.
You are infinitely perfect, using no unrighteous means.
You are self-sufficient, with no need to lie or deceive.
You are our end,
our interest,
our happiness,
with no interest other than our good.
You are our dearest Friend and Father,
and love us better than we love ourselves.
Therefore we have every reason confidently to trust you
and so cheerfully and gladly obey you
as one that rules us to bless us.

Sermon Discussion questions
Open Mouths & Stubborn Hearts: Psalm 81

Ice Breaker: You have 30 seconds to list all your favorite things or experiences, things you’re grateful to the Lord for.

This Week Specific

Pastor Brian mentions various forms of idolatry in our modern lives. What are some potential idols you struggle with in your own life? How do these idols compete with your devotion to God?
The Psalm calls us to "sing aloud" and "shout for joy" to God. How can we cultivate a more joyful, expressive worship in our personal and corporate worship times? Also, What is the connection between remembering and rejoicing?
God says "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it" (v.10). In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more fully to provide for your needs?
The sermon discusses the dangers of God giving people over to their "stubborn hearts." Can you think of a time when you experienced negative consequences from insisting on your own way rather than following God's guidance?
The Psalm ends with God's desire to satisfy His people. In what ways have you experienced God's satisfaction in your life? Are there areas where you're still seeking fulfillment apart from God?

Weekly Questions

What stood out to you/challenged you most in this sermon?
What’s one area you feel the Lord wants to grow you into more Christ likeness?
How can this group pray for you this week?