JESUS’ DEFINITION OF GENUINE GREATNESS MATTHEW 18:1

Many biblical scholars are not in agreement on which festive celebration was the occasion for Asaph’s writing of Psalm 81.  There are those who advance that the Passover was the occasion; whereas, others think that the Feast of Tabernacles best fits the occasion for the writing of Psalm 81. Whichever festive day in view, the psalm is filled with excitement over God’s great deliverance.  In fact, in verses 1-2, the psalmist summons the congregation to sing triumphantly to the Lord, their strength and to accompany their praise with musical instruments – “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.  Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.”

As a nation (vv. 3-5), they were summoned to keep the statue of appearing at the festival.  The very law of God required that every male had to keep the following festivals three times a year:  Feast of Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16).  As stated in verse 5, “For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.”  In verses 6-7, the psalmist reminded Israel of God’s dealings with them during their bondage experience in Egypt and their wilderness experience after they left Egypt.  He continued to rehearse God’s dealing with the people during the giving of the law.

God had promised to bless the people if they were obedient; therefore, they should not serve another god.  God’s decree was specific – “Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.  I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it” (vv.8-10).

The psalmist concludes this psalm by recalling that if the nation disobeys, they will be punished (vv. 11-12); as the people did not hearken to the voice of God so verse 12 states, “So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”  On the other hand in verses 13-16, if they obey God, He will bless the nation by destroying their enemies and continually provide for them  – “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee” (v.13).

May God Bless!