Hear O Israel, If you will listen

1
Hear O Israel,If you will listen

• Psalm 81

2
Background

• A psalm of Asaph
• Written during one of Israels feast days
  Passover Lev. 234-8 Trumpets Lev.
  2323-24 Tabernacles Lev. 2333-34

3
Celebrating Blessings

• Praise God in song music (1-3)
• Did God actually command/ authorize instrumental
  worship? OR did He tolerate it?

4
Celebrating Blessings

• Praise God in song (1-3)
• The point A call to praise God at His appointed
  time to do so.
• Why these feasts? To commemorate Gods
  deliverance of them. Properly observed they
  would humble the people

5
Celebrating Blessings

• Praise God in song (1-3)
• Lesson We are commanded to assemble (Heb.
  1025)AND various acts of worship intended to
  remind us of what God has done for us

That is why abuse in worship is taken so
seriouslycf. 1 Cor. 1117-34
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Celebrating Blessings

• Commanded by God (4)
• A statute for Israel, a law for God
• Observing these feasts was expected by all.

7
Celebrating Blessings

• Commanded by God (4)
• In our worship When God gives us instructions,
  we must respect in word and deedJohn 424, cf. 1
  Cor. 1128-29, Jas. 43

8
Celebrating Blessings

• Can these verses be used to justify instrumental
  music today?
• No! First it was directed to Israel. Also they
  were part of the Old Law

9
Celebrating Blessings

• A reminder of Gods deliverance (5-7)
• Throughout psalms and prophets reminders given of
  Israels history and Gods deliverance,
  especially the exodus.

10
Celebrating Blessings

• Gods deliverance (5-7)
• Examples Joseph made Egypt possibleGoing
  through the landDelivery from slaverySecret
  place of thunder (Ex. 1424 or 2018-20)Tested
  at Meribah - Ex. 176-7

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Celebrating Blessings

• Gods deliverance (5-7)
• Has God done wonderful things for us? Thought
  Unlike Israel, we do not have annual holidays
  though we have a memorial

12
Israels Rejection (8-12)

• Admonished, charged (8-9)
• Gods law No foreign gods!Ex. 203, Deut.
  613-15
• God has ALWAYS demanded exclusive worship

13
Israels Rejection (8-12)

• Admonished, charged (8-9)
• Can we be carried away with idols?1 Cor. 1014,
  1 Jn. 521Col. 35 Covetousness is idolatry

14
Israels Rejection (8-12)

• I AM the Lord your God(10)
• He was their only hope of deliverance
• A charge to seek Him first Matt. 633

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Israels Rejection (8-12)

• They rejected God(11-12)
• Over and over they rejected Him.
• He let them do what they wanted to do
• But their decision had consequences

16
Israels Rejection (8-12)

• They rejected God (11-12)
• Today God will not force us to serve Him! Rom.
  124-25
• God wants you, but it is YOUR choice!

17
A Call to Repentance (13-16)

• Listen and walk in His ways (13)
• Today God still want men to obey Him! 2 Pet.
  39, 1 Tim. 24
• Listening is not just hearing words, but
  responding

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A Call to Repentance (13-16)

• Promise of deliverance (14)
• He can save! 2 Pet. 29,
• He will punish His enemies 2 Thess. 16-9
• Whose side are YOU on?

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A Call to Repentance (13-16)

• Haters would pretend submission (15)
• Had they been loyal He would have subdued even
  those who are not loyal to Him

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A Call to Repentance (13-16)

• Haters would pretend submission (15)
• When we stand for what is right, we might silence
  our enemies 1 Cor. 127, 1 Pet. 212, 15
• Do we stand up for God enough?

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A Call to Repentance (13-16)

• God can and will bless the faithful (16)
• Faithfulness to God leads to satisfaction.
• Are you satisfied?

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Truly, we are blessed!

• Do we realize it?