Psalm 81:10-13 "I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. (11) But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. (12) So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. (13) Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!"
Verse 10 is amazing to me. "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it."
This is speaking of an act of faith on behalf of God's people. It can only be
done when we stop to realize the truth of our Redeemer, Lord and God.
There is only One Who can give liberty to us. There is only One Who can deliver
us from the bondage of bad habits and actions that we allow to consume us.
There is only One Who can take away that which binds us to our detriment and
releases us into the freedom of His holy Presence. We don't have to guess who
that is. "I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of
Egypt."
Once we can come to the absolute truth of that within our hearts, then we can
call upon Him in faith believing that He is able to do all things. Notice the
wording of the Lord to us, "Open thy mouth wide." Do we sell
ourselves short by trying to direct God as to how He should answer our
prayers? Do we open our mouths (our needs, our desires) as He directs us,
or do we think we have the answers and want God to do things according to our
plans and our design? God says, "Open your mouth WIDE."
How can we do that? For me, it has come through the avenue of first
praising Him and then submitting myself to His will. Jesus gave us the perfect
pattern for our prayers: "Nevertheless not my will, but thine be
done." Lord, may your will be done for me according to your plan and
purpose for my life.
"But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of
me." Isn't this a sad statement? God says, "Open to me and I will
fill." His people, not the godless people, but His people "would not
hearken to (his) voice." To incorporate some of my favorite verses,
God has said, "I love you with an everlasting love. I know the plans that
I have for you to bring to a place of peace." Jesus said, "I am come
that they might have abundant life.... But my people would not hearken to my
voice." In other words, we think we know better than God how our
lives ought to be lived.
"Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my
ways!" How is it working out for us to try to do it our way?
All you have to do is turn on the daily local news and you can see it just
isn't working for us. Isn't it time that we, as God's people, turn to Him with
mouths (needs, desires) wide open seeking HIS WILL and HIS WAY for our lives?