Psalm 81

I love Asaph’s prose. He is thinking about Father’s goodness and our tendency to stray – to follow “the stubbornness of” our heart and “to walk in [our] own devices.” As he contemplates this he breaks forth in praise and encourages others to do the same.

I relieved his shoulder of the burden,
His hands were freed from the basket.
You called in trouble and I rescued you;
I answered you in the hiding place of thunder;
I proved you at the waters of Meribah.

This is fascinating! Father is saying that He answers us in the midst of our fears and in the midst of our pain. It is these experiences that draw us to Father. The suffering we endure provides for us a greater hope of being like Jesus – of “walk[ing] in [His] ways.”

These Inward Trials

I asked the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek more earnestly His face.

I hoped that in some favoured hour
At once He’d answer my request,
And by His love’s constraining power
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

‘Lord, why is this?’ I trembling cried,
‘Wilt thou pursue Thy worm to death?’
‘’Tis in this way,’ the Lord replied,
‘I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st seek thy all in Me.’

John Newton

Father is reasserting His covenant with His people. He is pleading with them that the covenant is more than doing His deeds but walking in His ways. However, we “walk in [our] own devices.” We have our schemes, our agendas, our ways. How sad that Father has to give us “over to the stubbornness of [our] heart” before we learn.

There is a better Way.

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

Jesus said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. He has already broken the power of sin, satan, self, and the world over us. We are free! We are not partially rescued!