Psalms 81 – Open Thy Mouth Wide and I Will Fill It
A festival call to worship that recalls Israel's deliverance.
This chapter of the Psalms overview calls for trumpets and timbrels at the new moon feast, turning the restored vine of Psalms 80 into a summons to celebrate God's past deliverance from Egypt.
Sing aloud to God our strength. Make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song, and bring here the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast-day.
For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard a language that I knew not.
I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.
Thou called in trouble, and I delivered thee. I answered thee in the secret place of thunder. I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.
Hear, O my people, and I will testify to thee, O Israel, if thou would hearken to me!
There shall no strange god be in thee, nor shall thou worship any foreign god.
I am Jehovah thy God who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
But my people hearkened not to my voice, and Israel would none of me.
So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, that they might walk in their own counsels.
O that my people would hearken to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.
(The haters of Jehovah feign obedience to him, but their time is forever.)
He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat. And I would satisfy thee with honey out of the rock.