Friday, September 5, 2025

Reflection - Psalm 81:8-16 - Open Wide

Source (book): "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Psalm 81:8-16, "Open Wide", Page 108.
By Richard DeHaan, Our Daily Bread Writer


 Psalm 81:8-16
PHOTO: Psalm 81:8-16
Hear me, O my people, and I will warn you —
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not bow down to an alien god.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

"But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
Do I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

"If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,
how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their punishment would but forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."


Open Wide
As a boy, I was always thrilled to discover a newly constructed robin's nest. It was fascinating to watch for the eggs and then to wait for those featherless little creatures with bulging eyes and gaping mouths to break out of their shells. Standing at a distance, I could see their heads bobbing unsteadily and their mouths wide open, expecting Mother Robin to give them their dinner.

As I recall those childhood scenes, I think of God's promise: "I am the Lord your God . . . Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it." (Psalm 81:10). In spite of the gracious offer to ancient Israel, the people ignored God, and He "gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own devices" (Psalm 81:12). If they had accepted God's offer, they "would be fed with the finest of wheat, with honey from the rock" (Psalm 81:16).

So too God longs to give us spiritual food. And He will satisfy our spiritual hunger as we study His Word, worship with others, listen to faithful Bible teachers, read literature with good biblical content, and daily depend on Him.

If we refuse God's provisions, we will suffer spiritual malnutrition, and fail to grow. But if we open our mouth wide, we can be sure that God will fill it.
- Richard DeHaan
Picture posted by Scripture Prayer
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sR8w_Uf9g4_lAerm9od-kpgFVFLHYhDVMwgjDCcCYKLv0iE3wypaqDtSD15itab1Sk4MH80gV1nRIA44FV5LS6hwl195DfAjUvktvcQfnRNauLjfoeCSDYzUKHRtUwM12zW0A48drSvekVpmE1U_k3_CJGiKIeufaw9o2zWwgrKIWFT1YeDaXGZgseE/s900/ps81_10_1.png
https://khollandsblog.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ps81_10.jpg
https://scriptureprayers.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/open-wide-your-mouth/


Psalm 81:8-16
Hear me, O my people, and I will warn you —
if you would but listen to me, O Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not bow down to an alien god.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

"But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
Do I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.

"If my people would but listen to me,
if Israel would follow my ways,
how quickly would I subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their punishment would but forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."


 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
PHOTO: But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.
Picture posted by กนกวรรณ สุขเกษม (Kanokwan Sukkasem)

Open Wide
As a boy, I was always thrilled to discover a newly constructed robin's nest. It was fascinating to watch for the eggs and then to wait for those featherless little creatures with bulging eyes and gaping mouths to break out of their shells. Standing at a distance, I could see their heads bobbing unsteadily and their mouths wide open, expecting Mother Robin to give them their dinner.


 As a boy, I was always thrilled to discover a newly constructed robin's nest.
PHOTO: As a boy, I was always thrilled to discover a newly constructed robin's nest. It was fascinating to watch for the eggs and then to wait for those featherless little creatures with bulging eyes and gaping mouths to break out of their shells. Standing at a distance, I could see their heads bobbing unsteadily and their mouths wide open, expecting Mother Robin to give them their dinner.
Picture posted by Karen T. Willitts, Esq. on 02 May 2016
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANoXbR8qkt6sEAMReBLGgr6wgd5ilsfm9TzxFfKpcR-CTgUYf91xsLh-N3r5glLlrbQS5aWFaB4H2WpK21N2eWn6exPihQjovtWVDmE2eHLZ0QxOo4x-povp_QM8OaTtOtIkPk02pA7zDWbMck_KKDhgql_fktUMC5GpZyvxqNoowxpyK0pIl1_pfvAk/s6000/a_1.png
https://www.newjerseydivorcelawyer-blog.com/files/2016/04/a.jpg
https://www.newjerseydivorcelawyer-blog.com/bird-nesting-divorce-reasonable-aid-co-parenting/


As I recall those childhood scenes, I think of God's promise: "I am the Lord your God . . . Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it." (Psalm 81:10). In spite of the gracious offer to ancient Israel, the people ignored God, and He "gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own devices" (Psalm 81:12). If they had accepted God's offer, they "would be fed with the finest of wheat, with honey from the rock" (Psalm 81:16).


 As I recall those childhood scenes, I think of God's promise:
PHOTO: As I recall those childhood scenes, I think of God's promise: "I am the Lord your God . . . Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it." (Psalm 81:10). In spite of the gracious offer to ancient Israel, the people ignored God, and He "gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own devices" (Psalm 81:12). If they had accepted God's offer, they "would be fed with the finest of wheat, with honey from the rock" (Psalm 81:16).
Picture posted by Fashion Network


 So too God longs to give us spiritual food.
PHOTO: So too God longs to give us spiritual food. And He will satisfy our spiritual hunger as we study His Word, worship with others, listen to faithful Bible teachers, read literature with good biblical content, and daily depend on Him.
Picture posted by P's crazy creations
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFlMNwAU9-Dtm0VOzdO_oua1P6ABbET3_kG5tGEGDe0RHE010DUbdISLZvpUF-2tnx-vMgqrlNKejM8JOAx42cskokNKPsVsvljYCvpM0TrNHcmejYT2llLVkBEMjht2013X1jsqdQQ9SUy81tknOR3sK_jGB128X806LxBWigH3Q1ugKzSth0T6K5aI/s1024/068f84807500db4fe6cb33b2f9c53d12_1.png
https://i.pinimg.com/1200x/06/8f/84/068f84807500db4fe6cb33b2f9c53d12.jpg
https://kr.pinterest.com/pin/93238654780644633/


If we refuse God's provisions, we will suffer spiritual malnutrition, and fail to grow. But if we open our mouth wide, we can be sure that God will fill it.
- Richard DeHaan


 If we refuse God's provisions, we will suffer spiritual malnutrition, and fail to grow.
PHOTO: If we refuse God's provisions, we will suffer spiritual malnutrition, and fail to grow. But if we open our mouth wide, we can be sure that God will fill it.
Picture posted by Govind
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/
 

 Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we pray that we open our mouth wide, and be sure that God will it. For if we refuse God's provisions, we will suffer spiritual malnutrition, and fail to grow.

May we study His Word, worship with others, listen to faithful Bible teachers, read literature with good biblical content, and daily depend on Him.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen."
Picture posted by sampul_kristen
Picture upscaled by AI Image Upscaler at https://pixnova.ai/image-upscaler/

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Reference
[1] From "My Soul Thirsts For God", Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread, Copyright @ 2009 by Discovery House Publishers, Psalm 81:8-16, "Open Wide", Page 108.

Links


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