Learning about Worship (Psalm 81:1-5)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR
5/2/2012 9:32:47 AM
My Worship Time      Focus: Learning about worship
Bible Reading & Meditation     Reference:  Psalm 81:1-5
 Message of the verses:  In today’s SD we will begin to look at Psalm 80 by first looking at a few different introductions from different Bible Commentators.
 “This psalm was intended to be used in the celebration of one of the feasts of Israel, most likely the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles.  After the call to worship (vv. 1-5), the psalm presents a message from God in the first person (vv. 6-16).  This oracle pleads with Israel to ‘listen’ to Him (v. 13), so that He might pour out on the nation the blessings of the covenant.”  (The John MacArthur Study Bible)
 “The psalmist called the people together to worship the Lord, but then the Lord’s messenger received a special message from God and delivered it to the people.  The occasion was a stated feast on the Jewish calendar, but we are not told which feast it was.  Passover is suggested by verses 5-7 and 10, but the mention of the new moon and the full moon (v. 3, NASB) suggests Trumpets and Tabernacles.  The Jewish religious year begins in the month of Nisan (our March-April), during which the Feast of Passover is celebrated (Ex. 12).  The civil year begins with Tishri (our September-October), the seventh month in the religious year, during which the Jews celebrate the Feast of Trumpets (first day, ‘Rosh Hashanah’), the Day of Atonement (tenth day, ‘Yom Kippur’), and east of Tabernacles (days fifteen to twenty-two).  (See Lev. 23:23-44 and Num. 29.)  The first day would be new moon and the fifteenth day the full moon.  The trumpets mentioned here are not the silver trumpets (Num. 10) but the ‘shofar,’ the ram’s horn, as was used at Jericho (Josh. 6).  This argues for the occasion being the Feast of Tabernacles, although perhaps Asaph conflated Passover and Tabernacles, for they go together.  Passover celebrated the deliverance from Egypt and Tabernacles was also a joyful harvest festival.  The psalm reminds us of three different aspects of true worship.”  (Warren Wiersbe)
 Praising God’s Name (vv. 1-5):  “1 ¶  «For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of Asaph.» Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob. 2  Raise a song, strike the timbrel, The sweet sounding lyre with the harp. 3  Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast day. 4  For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob. 5  He established it for a testimony in Joseph When he went throughout the land of Egypt. I heard a language that I did not know:”
 “1 ¶  For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument. Sing praises to God, our strength.  Sing to the God of Jacob. 2  Sing! Beat the tambourine.  Play the sweet lyre and the harp. 3  Blow the ram’s horn at new moon,  and again at full moon to call a festival! 4  For this is required by the decrees of Israel;  it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. 5  He made it a law for Israel  when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say,”  (NLT)
 We see in this section a call to worship, a call to worship during the feasts, and it has already been discussed in the introductions as to which feasts are thought to be talked about in this psalm.  We see music involved in the worship of the Lord and we also see the paying of the “rams horn” involved in this worship.  As Dr. Wiersbe mentioned in his introduction there were certain times in the Jewish religious calendar where people came together to worship the Lord.  If my memory serves me correct this type of worship will again go on in the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth beginning shortly after the conclusion of the tribulation period, which will end with the second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth.  People who are living all over the world will be required to come to Jerusalem on different occasions to worship the Lord.  We can call this type of worship stated times for worship, but there also could have been spontaneous times for worship, such as when the army has defeated an enemy, and when that happened people could worship the Lord, giving thanks for the victory that He gave them.  Dr. Wiersbe writes the following as he comments on both kinds of worship:  “Both are essential to balanced worship, and both should focus on the goodness of the Lord.  If all worshiping were personal and spontaneous, there would be diversity but not unity; but if all worship only followed a schedule, there would be uniformity and no diversity.”
 Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This strikes a chord with me as I think about worship and how it is done in churches today.  There seems to be different ways that people worship in different churches, some are full of mostly songs, and little preaching of the Word, some are very strict and have little singing, and mostly dry preaching.  Some are balanced by have both singing, and preaching with the emphases on balance as all parts of the service are to worship the Lord.  Then we can have our own worship everyday as we meet with the Lord in our own private worship service.  Parts of my SD’s have the words “My Worship Time,” and the study of the Word of God is genuine worship.  There are spontaneous times for worship when perhaps I have the privilege to lead someone to the Lord, or when a burden has been lifted by a wonderful answer to prayer.  The important thing to do is to worship the Lord for He deserves all worship that we give Him for the wonderful salvation He has provided for us.
My Steps of Faith for Today:  Worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. 
5/2/2012 10:17:10 AM