Mixtapes Reading Plan – W2D3

Check out all the previous Mixtapes readings here.

Mixtapes Reading | Week 2 | Day 3

Prayer

Take a moment to be silent and still. In order to be fully present in body and mind, take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Do this three times. Pray that God would open your eyes to wonderful things from His word today.

Bible Reading: Psalm 81

Read these verses three times slowly.

Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the timbrel,
play the melodious harp and lyre.

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
When God went out against Egypt,
he established it as a statute for Joseph.

I heard an unknown voice say:

“I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

“But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

“If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Reflection & Questions

As we continue to look at following God in our Mixtapes reading this week we come to Psalm 81. This psalm lays out in broad strokes the story of Israel. In sum, they cry out to God; God rescues them and calls them to follow Him; once rescued they don’t listen to Him and follow their own ways (which God allows); God continues to offer opportunities to turn to Him.

What is so moving in this psalm is the way God is speaking in the first person in it. For example, He says: “I rescued you”, “I answered you”, “if you would only listen to me”, “I will warn”, “I gave them over,” and “I would satisfy you.” His love for His people and His frustration in their stubborness jumps off the page.

If we are honest with ourselves, we can see ourselves in the story of Israel. God has rescued us and yet do we listen to Him as we should? Sometimes we are so stubborn. We might skip reading the Bible or going to church because, you know, “we got this.” How silly we are! And how patient and loving is our God.

1. What words or phrases stick out to you from this psalm?
2. Are you being stubborn God? If so, why? Talk to Him about that.

Prayer

Talk to God in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?