Psalm 81

"Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel if thou wilt hearken unto me...."{God's Love} "But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel had none of me..."{God's Lament}"Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways." {God's Longing} Psalm 81: 8, 11, 13

God's big heart is open wide and filled with love for each and everyone of us as He speaks,"My people, those of you who have claimed my name. I want to talk to you, admonish you and help you to draw closer to me. HEAR--actively listen to what I am saying and then obey my Word. If you will hearken, if you will heed, if you will obey my words your spiritual life will be free from the desolation, the destruction and death that those serving strange gods have to live with. I the Lord God, the Living One have freed you from sin and now I want you to continue to grow. You can do this by opening your mouth wide in acceptance, in submission to whatever I bring to you. I'll be able to give you a fulfilling spiritual life as you heed my words."

In verse 8 we can almost hear the hope in the voice of God as He calls his people to Himself. He has hope that they will choose to continue to grow in the life that He offers. The tone changes in verse 11 to sadness, as God laments the fact that His people would not listen.

Hear the lament in His voice as He once again speaks "'But my people would not hearken to my voice...' I had plans untold for you. I wanted to bless you and bring you into a fulfilling relationship with Myself, but...ye 'would none of me.' I had given my people a free will. I had to let my people go their own way--they 'chose to walk in their own counsels.'"

God's longing is for each one of us to choose to hearken to His voice, His soft whispers of directions in day to day life. God mourns at the loss of each one who chooses their own way over God's way.

You can hear the longing in the heart of God as He once again speaks, "'Oh, that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways.' I would have given them my best. Victory would have been theirs. They would have tasted the honey from heaven. Even in the rocky times of life I would have been there. I would have been enough. I would have satisfied every longing of the soul."

God gives us all a choice and a chance to hear and hearken to His voice. Are we going to heed His voice even in those things that are nearest and dearest to our heart? In my own life I don't want to become so set on having my own way that I don't heed God's whispers. There will always be places I need to change and ways I need to grow. I want to hearken to whatever God speaks to my heart. His way is always the best.