Listening and Trusting in Psalm 81 Leads to Raising a Song

Shortly after I faced loss, I found solace in music. At first, I could not listen to any music. About ten days after I lost my wife—and after I returned home after the second funeral—I was in the car with my sons and I could only listen to quiet, soothing, worshipful instrumental music.

Soothing. Healing. No singing with words. And not loud, for sure.

“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.” Psalm 81:1-3

Singing, or raising a song, is a natural response to experiencing our strong God. Instruments are perfect expressions of celebration and worship.

Asaph recounts how their God made a decree, a statute, a rule to bear the burdens of his people. Music is appropriate. God freed his people, relieved their burdens.

“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.” Psalm 81:7

God’s people, in the midst of need, failed a test of faith in earlier days (Exodus 17:7). They needed water but instead of trusting, they asked where God was in this time of need. Trust is most noteworthy when you actually need to have faith. Waiting is difficult. Waiting when you can’t see a way out is wearisome. Faith is hard work. In times past, today, and for all time. But, we have a faithful God if we’ll turn to him. Paul reinforces this lesson in 1 Corinthians 10:13. He contends that there is no temptation of any level that is not common to all men and can be resisted. The key is God’s faithfulness to provide a way of escape and to enable endurance by his people.

Likewise, Asaph admonishes the people to listen carefully. They must not turn to strange gods but must remain faithful. They are to remain loyal and not bow down to foreign gods. This trust-filled posture is simple until brokenness overwhelms. And that’s the point. Asaph is warning the people of the danger. Difficult times are times of vulnerability. If you’re facing loss, listen carefully and refuse to turn to other gods, whatever those strange gods might be for you.

“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.” Psalm 81:10-11

Provision comes from God alone. Like chicks, we open our mouths for food, and he fills them. Even with such a God, people then and people now do not listen nor do they submit. God gives the rebellious over to their own devices.

“Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!” Psalm 81:13

God, in kindness, longs for our repentance. He yearns for us to listen and to walk with him and in his ways. He stands ready to fight on our behalf. He is trustworthy; we are simply to trust him and rest in him. And walk with him.

“When the way seems dark before me, give me grace to walk trustingly…” John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer

Besides, enemies are no match for his power. Asaph reports that those who hate God cringe. Their fate is a forever defeat.

If we will simply listen and trust, he will provide all we need. Our strong God will satisfy us with good—a way of escape, most assuredly.

Listen to him and trust him now; you will raise a song again.

“But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81:16