I’ll feed you from a rock…

Psalm 81:11-16 says, "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. 12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. 13 "If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."

Our nation is in trouble. In farm country, we live in the midst of record yields and good commodity prices and yet our country is in trouble. This week the Federal Reserve purchased 600 billion dollars of our own debt—no one else wants to buy it any more.

In the 81st Psalm it tells of a nation who rejects or ignores God’s love. Our nation has been and is blessed by God but we, like Israel, “do not listen” or submit to God (v.11).

God has a limit to His patience. In verse 12 God says if this is the way you want it, you’re on your own. God then shows us the way to come back to Him.

1. Listen to God (v. 13). Read His word.

   2.  Follow His way (v.13). Put His word into action.

   3.  What will God do? Subdue their enemies (plural) v. 14.

   4.  Those who hate the Lord will cringe before Him—forever. (Can we see the light of Christ in this present momentary darkness?)

Then God blesses His people because we are His -- (just because we are His.) We can’t earn any favor, can’t impress Him with our works; no, He blesses and restores us just because we are His.

In verse 16 God then promises to feed us the finest wheat and honey. To do this, He doesn’t need to crank up the combines to get some wheat. He doesn’t need to search for a hidden honeycomb. If our God has to, He can bring wheat and honey out of a rock.

Remember this, because of the suffering sacrifice of God’s one and only son Jesus, we can come into God’s presence and the resurrected Christ will restore us to our Heavenly Father.
Our stubborn heart is made new, our ears are unplugged, we listen and we put His word into practice. He will subdue our enemies and feed us from a rock.

If this is true, what are we afraid of? We need to humble ourselves before the Mighty God, confess our sins and come to Jesus and live.