Souls Satisfied in Christ – Psalm 81

“To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength. Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute. Blow the trumpet at the time of the new moon, at the full moon, on our solemn feast day.” Psalm 81:1-3

In verse one, the congregation does the loud singing and joyful shouting. In verse two, Levite singers and musicians play the songs with tambourines, harps and lutes. In verse three, priests sound shofars (ram’s horns). [1] The purpose of the ram’s horns were to call God’s people to the solemn feast day during the New Moon. [2]

“On the September new moon, the first day of the seventh month, was kept a great festival, called the ‘feast of trumpets’ (See Leviticus 23:24 and Numbers 29:1). The tenth day of the seventh month was the great day of atonement. The fifteenth day of the seventh month was the feast of tabernacles.” [3]

In Numbers 10:10, we read, “Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”

During New Moon worship services, Israel burned meat and incense to God. They filled the air with fragrant smoke and with the sound of horns. They feasted and fellowshipped together.

New Moon worship services symbolized new beginnings. These gatherings offered worshippers an opportunity to rededicate themselves to God. During these services, they sought God’s guidance for the month ahead. The moon represented light overcoming darkness. [4]

During these feasts, Israel celebrated God by recounting His mighty acts on their behalf, and by playing music and singing to Him.

“For this is a statute for Israel, a Law of the God of Jacob. This He established in Joseph as a testimony, when He went throughout the land of Egypt, where I heard a language, I did not understand. I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the baskets. You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah!” Psalm 81:4-7

A key theme of the Old Testament is God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Their deliverance from slavery foreshadowed a greater deliverance, namely, God delivering them from sin and its horrific consequences through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

The old covenant was called the Law of Moses. The new covenant is about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In John 1:17, we read, “The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

In Hebrews 3:3, we read, “Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.” Jesus is greater than Moses as a son is greater than a servant.

In John 5:45-46, Jesus said to the religious leaders, “Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.”

In Matthew 17:2-8, Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus. Then, they disappeared. A voice from a cloud, said, “This [Jesus] is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” Moses and Elijah appeared and disappeared, but Jesus remained. [5]

The Father told Peter, James and John that Jesus was the One that they should heed. Moses and Elijah were God’s faithful servants, but Jesus Messiah is God’s Son, and our Savior from sin.

“Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O, Israel if you will listen to Me! There shall be no foreign god among you; nor shall you worship any foreign god.” Psalm 81:8-9

Don’t make a person, organization, denomination or a thing your god! In Matthew 17:5, God spoke from heaven and told Peter, James and John to listen to His beloved Son.

In John 10:30 and 14:9, Jesus claimed to be God’s Son. His execution as a blasphemer by Jewish authorities made it appear that His claims were false, but His resurrection confirmed His claim.

In Romans 1:4, Paul wrote that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead.” His resurrection serves as proof that His death was the perfect sacrifice for sin. If Jesus had remained dead, His teachings would have been discredited. [6]

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “When the mother-bird brings food she never has to ask the little ones to open their mouths wide. Her only difficulty is to fill the great width which they are quite sure to present to her. Appetite and eagerness are never lacking.”

“We open our mouths wide when we understand the greatness of the God we pray to. We open our mouths wide when we pray on Jesus’ merits, not our own.” [7]

“But My people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels. ‘O, 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 adversaries.” Psalm 81:11-14

God’s judgments included withdrawing His grace so Israel was left with sinful desires.

Asaph’s lament over Ephraim compares with Christ’s weeping over Jerusalem. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”

“The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him, but their fate would endure forever.” Psalm 81:15

God’s enemies yield to Him because they fear His power, not because they desire a relationship with Him. The judgment of those who oppose or reject God is eternal. [8]

In Revelation 20:15, we read, “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

“He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat, and with honey from the rock. I would have satisfied you.” Psalm 81:16

Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life. When we receive Him, He satisfies our souls.

Jesus Christ is the Rock of our Salvation. He is the surest foundation to build our lives upon.

The words of Jesus Christ are honey to our souls. In Psalm 19:10, we read that God’s laws and commands are “sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” In Psalm 119:103, we read, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Asaph began Psalm 81 by remembering the days when Israel worshipped the Lord with loud singing and joyful shouts. He longed to see great crowds gather in worship to the Lord again.

In Matthew 13:2, we read that great crowds gathered to hear Jesus speak. Asaph’s longing was fulfilled in Christ.

In Revelation 7:9-11, John the Apostle saw “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” “They cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’” Angels, elders and four living creatures worshiped God as well, saying, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Asaph would have been in that crowd worshipping as well.

In Psalm 42:1-2, the Psalmist wrote, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

Yes, the human soul pants and thirsts for God. It wants to be with Him.

The Holy Spirit of Christ satisfies our souls with His presence while we wait for our redemption.

The days and years, we served selfish ambitions, God can and will forgive when we seek His forgiveness. But what about today, tomorrow and the next day?

“Heavenly Father, please grant to us a hunger and thirst for You that will exceed other desires. Please satisfy our souls with Your presence. Please fill our souls with Your Holy Spirit until our souls overflow with professions of faith in Jesus Christ, and love for all people. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.”




[1] Commentary on Psalms by C.F. Keil & Franz Delitzsch (Authors)
[2] Psalms 73-150 by Derek Kidner, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries
[3] A Commentary on the Book of Psalms by George Horne
[4] Matthew Henry’s Commentary (edited)
[5] twojourneys.org/sermons/series/hebrews/jesus-is-greater-than-moses-hebrews-sermon
[6] billygraham.org/decision-magazine/articles/john-stott-the-cross-and-the-resurrection
[7] Enduring Word Commentary
[8] The Bible Hub