Food of obedience

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 1 Samuel 13-14; Psalm 81

TO CHEW ON: "Oh that My people would listen to Me,

That Israel would walk in My ways!

He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat;

And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you." Psalm 81:13,16

The promise is for quality food — the finest wheat for bread, the staff of life — and honey, for energy and pleasure. Inspired Bible writer Asaph promises these blessings on behalf of God. They come as the result of acknowledging God and obeying Him.

Obedience is linked with plenty in other scriptures.
- It triggers the right weather and growing conditions (Isaiah 30:23; Ezekiel 36:30).
- The plenty that follows obedience is so marked that the year becomes one big harvest (Leviticus 26:5; Amos 9:13).
- Obedience results in God's delight in us generally, which adds His blessing to all of life so that not only do we have enough to eat, but our family and work prosper too (Deuteronomy 30:9; Psalm 132:15).

What specifically brings these blessings into a life (or shuts them out)? In today's psalm they are dependent on the people acknowledging God:
- As the One to worship (Psalm 81:9)
- As the One to credit for past success (Psalm 81:10).
- As the One who holds the future (Psalm 81:10).
- As the One whose voice they will listen to and obey (Psalm 81:11).

I ask myself, am I allowing anything in my life to become an object of worship--an idol? Do I acknowledge God's help in the past and His sovereignty over the future?

In our culture of salaries and superstores, where our lives are mere steps or a short drive removed from our food supply, the connection between obedience and enough to eat is easy to miss. Then again, our persistent, consistent need for refueling illustrates, every four to six of our waking hours, how tangible this connection could become.

PRAYER: Dear God, please help me to have a faith simple enough to connect the way I live with Your supply of my basic needs. Help me to worship You and acknowledge You in all of life — past, present and future. 

 PSALM TO PRAY: Psalm 81


MORE: "Do You Know Why You Need to Eat?"

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.