July 12, 2023 — Psalm 81 

“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 festal day. For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known: “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Hear, O my people, while I admonish you; O Israel, if you would but listen to me! There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. 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. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes. Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, and their doom would last forever. I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81 

The Psalmist is calling on G-d’s people to praise G-d at their “festal” day — and the people should praise G-d with the trumpet, the lyre, and songs of praise. The Psalmist wants the people to worship G-d and not hold back. Also, he wants them to praise G-d with joy in their heart. There are many references to worship offered to G-d that includes musical instruments in the Old Testament, but not necessarily so in the New Testament. But one thing that has never changed is that G-d does not want us to hold back when we worship.  

I have seen too many examples of half-hearted worship — in fact Lutherans can be accused of being too pious in our worship. However, when we think about what G-d has done for us, and that we have the privilege to come together in worship to lift up to G-d prayer, praise and thanksgiving, it should cause us to be full of joy and give us the motivation to give G-d our best. 

When the Jews got together for their feast, they used three stringed instruments: the timbrel, harp, and the lute. They also would blow a trumpet at the new moon. I have been blessed to have known so many talented musicians in my experiences in the church throughout my life. This has given me the opportunity to express my praise to G-d with the trumpet, the brass group, the choir and the bell and the guitar groups, among so many other instruments. We should always seek new and joyous ways to offer our prayers, praise and thanksgiving to G-d in all ways that allow us to express joy.    

Prayer 

God our strength, you ease our burden and set us free from bondage to death. Help us listen always to your voice, and satisfy our hearts with the finest bread, food for this life and a foretaste of eternity: your Son, Jesus Christ, the bread of life. 

Amen.