Today, our daily devotional on Psalms 79-84 captures powerful themes of repentance, reliance on God, and a longing for His presence. In these psalms, God implores His people to heed His voice. The question for each of us is: do we eagerly seek to hear Him, or does He need to call out repeatedly before we respond? Let’s take this time to reflect on what it means to listen actively to God and to see if our hearts truly hunger for His presence. As we go through these psalms today, may we find renewed motivation to listen, obey, and seek God with joy. To see why it is to remain consistent with God, read the daily devotional on Psalms 77-78.
Psalms 79-84 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today is day sixteen in our journey through the Book of Psalms. Today, we are going to look at six psalms, Psalms 79-84. God begs His people to listen to Him. Does He beg you too, or do you willingly and joyfully seek His voice? Please read or listen to Psalms 79-84.
Why Does God Want Us to Be Obedient?
I have some short summaries to these chapters in my journal in 1997. Let’s look there first. Chapter 79, “Jerusalem laid waste. How long, Lord, will your anger burn against Israel? A plea for forgiveness and mercy.” Then on to Psalm 80, “Israel is like a vine planted by God, but heathen nations are eating its fruit.” Then Psalm 81, “If Israel would just listen to God, He would subdue the enemy and take care of His people. Over and over God reminds us that He wants obedience.”
Why Israel Is So Successful?
Next, Psalm 82, “Deliver the poor and the needy. And then all the foundations of the earth are unstable. You shall die like men.” On to Psalm 83, “Many have tried to wipe out Israel without success. Defeating Israel’s enemies lets everyone see You are the Most High over all the earth.”
What Is the Significance of Psalm 84?
Lastly, Psalm 84, “How do you feel about church, my tabernacle? Do I long to go there? Do I find God’s presence there? Peace? Solitude? Worship? Not really. I haven’t thought about it much. I do find God’s peace and presence at the church I go to and a spirit of worship. But do I long or faint for the courts of the Lord? No. Maybe I will have a better attitude about tabernacles. I’m on a pilgrimage, a journey called life, from birth to death to eternity.” Then I quoted verses from chapter 84 (NKJV):
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly (vv. 10-11).
What Does It Mean to Follow God’s Path?
What does God want? God wants our obedience. What do we want? We want to go our own way until we get in trouble and then we want God to restore us. This was the path not only for the nation of Israel, but it is the path for many of us today. Psalm 81:11-13 remind us:
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!
That is the cry of God, not only for the nation of Israel then, but for your heart today. He wants you to listen to His voice. He wants you to submit to Him. And He says if you do that, He will be with you. He will bless you. We cannot get a better deal than that, can we? If we want the blessings of God, all we have to do is obey His Word and His voice. It sounds so simple but seems so hard to do. Are you obeying God’s voice? Are you listening to Him through His Word? I pray it so, let’s pray.
Prayer
Father, by reading the psalms it is clear what You want from us. You want our love. You want our worship. You want our obedience to Your Word and Your laws. And You tell us that when we do that, You pour out Your blessings upon us. Yet the world tugs at our heart day after day, keeping us away from You.
Forgive us, Almighty God. You say You will forgive us, if we confess our sins to You. So let’s confess today that we want to hear Your voice. We want to obey Your voice. Holy Spirit, help us do that. Help us long to be with You. That means in our own personal quiet time and in a house of worship on a regular basis. Holy Spirit, steer my heart toward You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
