Today’s Bible Study Lesson is Psalm Chapter 81- Led By Sis Tiffany Sheppard

Be encouraged to Read, Respond, and Share.

Introduction

Psalm 81 is a call to worship, a reminder of God’s past deliverance, and a heartfelt plea for His people to return to Him. Written as a festival psalm, it emphasizes God’s longing to bless His people if only they would listen, obey, and trust Him. It’s both celebratory and sobering—praising God’s faithfulness while confronting the heartache of rebellion. It reminds us that even when we are weary or out of alignment, God stands ready to restore, refresh, and relieve our burdens.

Verse-by-Verse Study (NLT)

Verse 1: “Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob.”

Explanation: This verse invites us to lift our voices in praise, not because we always feel strong, but because God is our strength. He is consistent, faithful, and worthy of worship even when we feel weak.

Verse 2: “Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp.”

Explanation: A call to joyful celebration using instruments. Praise isn’t limited to our voices—it includes all forms of expression that honor God.

Verse 3: “Blow the ram’s horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival!”

Explanation: This highlights a specific time of worship, likely during the Feast of Tabernacles. God desires appointed times of celebration and remembrance.

Verse 4: “For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob.”

Explanation: These practices weren’t optional. God established them to keep His people in rhythm with Him and remind them of His provision.

Verse 5: “He made it a law for Israel when He attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say,”

Explanation: God reminds them of their deliverance from Egypt. The “unknown voice” represents God’s speaking—a moment of divine instruction and guidance.

Verse 6: “Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.”

Explanation: God promises rest and relief. He desires to lift burdens and offer freedom from the overwhelming weight of life’s responsibilities.

Verse 7: “You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.”

Explanation: God recounts past moments of rescue. Even when tested, His help came. This verse reminds us that God hears, responds, and refines.

Verse 8: “Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me!”

Explanation: God pleads for obedience. His warnings come from a place of love and desire for intimacy, not control.

Verse 9: “You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god.”

Explanation: God reaffirms His position as the only true God. Disobedience or idolatry breaks the covenant relationship He desires.

Verse 10: “For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.”

Explanation: God longs to provide. He rescued them before and wants to bless them again—but they must come to Him with open hearts and faith.

Verse 11: “But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around.”

Explanation: A sorrowful response—God’s people rejected Him despite His goodness. He respects free will but mourns rebellion.

Verse 12: “So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.”

Explanation: Sometimes the greatest judgment is God allowing us to have our own way. Disobedience brings distance and consequences.

Verse 13: “Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!”

Explanation: This is the cry of a loving Father. God desires to lead, protect, and bless—but we must choose to follow.

Verse 14: “How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes!”

Explanation: Obedience brings protection. God’s intervention is swift when we align ourselves with Him.

Verse 15: “Those who hate the Lord would cringe before Him; they would be doomed forever.”

Explanation: God is just. He defends His people and punishes wickedness, ensuring righteousness prevails.

Verse 16: “But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”

Explanation: God ends with a promise of abundant provision—both natural and miraculous—if we would simply trust and obey.

Takeaway/Application Steps

1. Start your day with worship, even when you’re weary. Let praise become your strength.

2. Listen for God’s voice in the middle of your busyness and burdens. He still speaks.

3. Release your load to God—physically, emotionally, spiritually. He wants to carry what you were never meant to.

4. Obey His word, even in small things. Obedience opens the door for blessing.

5. Trust that He will provide all that you need—strength, joy, provision—when you walk with Him.

Personal Observation

There was a morning not too long ago when I woke up feeling completely drained. My body ached, my head throbbed, and emotionally, I felt like I had nothing left to give. But life didn’t stop just because I wasn’t at my best. The kids still needed to be fed, responsibilities still called, and people still looked to me to show up. I wanted to stay in bed, pull the covers over my head, and just be still—but instead, I whispered a quiet prayer: “Lord, be my strength today, because I don’t have it.”

Psalm 81 speaks to a God who desires to carry our burdens, who longs for His people to listen to Him and trust Him fully. Verse 6 especially resonates: “Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.” That verse felt personal. It was as if God was reminding me that I didn’t have to carry everything alone—that even in my weakness, He was right there offering His strength.

That day, I moved slower than usual, but I moved. Every step, every task, felt like an act of obedience—choosing to keep going not in my own power, but by His grace. I listened to worship music while folding laundry, prayed while preparing meals, and leaned on His promises through every ache.

I think many of us, especially women, push through pain silently. We hold it all together even when we feel like falling apart. Psalm 81 reminds us that we were never meant to do it all alone. God says, “Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (verse 10). He wants to pour into us—not just strength, but joy, peace, and rest—even on our most difficult days.

So if you’re weary, sick, or just emotionally tired, know this: God is not expecting you to be superhuman. He’s just asking you to lean on Him. Even when your strength runs out, His never does. He honors your effort and multiplies your small steps. Sometimes, just getting out of bed is a victory. And every task you do while leaning on Him is an act of worship.