Can You Hear God's Heart?

"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.  But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.  Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!  I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.  Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him and their fate would last forever.  But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”  Psalm 81:10-16

My, oh my, can you hear God's heart here?!  This really hit me as I read this Psalm. “...open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” I could hear Jesus saying, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28) I could hear James saying, “...you have not because you ask not.” (James 4:2) 

Upon reflection near the end of his life David said, “ I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (Psalm 37:25 KJV)

Can you hear his utter disappointment as He talked about how His people would not listen to Him? How He had to let them go, let them return to their foolish selfish lusts? He laments over this with a heaviness I had not picked up on previously, as I did this morning. Though the KJV says “should have” it is better rendered as “I would.” God is saying if they would obey then I would bless.

Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”  God's blessing always follows obedience. Obedience brings blessing. But I think the Christian who is called, even commanded, to love the Lord with all their heart should WANT TO obey God, to please Him, and to avoid grieving Him.  He is clearly grieved in this Psalm.

May it begin with me!