Sing to the LORD our Strength - vs. 1 - 4
“Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. 3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. 4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.”
Sing to the LORD! He is our strength! Praise the LORD with instruments and with a feast of gladness.
Our singing and music and feasting with gladness are a testimony of what God has done for us.
What God Has Done for Us - vs. 5 - 7
“5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not. 6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. 7Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.”
He saved us. He brought us up out of Egypt, out of the world, away from a people of a strange language. He took away from us our burden of sin and our bondage. He answered our prayer. He proved our sincerity with trials and testings - trials of bitterness. These trials He sent to assure us that we are His.
Our Response - vs. 8 - 10
“8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. 10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”
We should put away from us all other gods. Anything that we trust in or depend upon in God’s place should be removed from our lives. God is the LORD our God, who brought us out of the world. He will provide all we need if we only trust in Him.
If We Do Not Trust in God? - vs. 11,12
“11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 12So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”
God will let us have our own way, and we will struggle along trying to make things work and being frustrated because our paths always end in defeat.
Then We Will Remember, “If We Had Listened and Walked in God’s Ways…” - vs. 13 - 16
“13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. 16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.”
God would have subdued our enemies and turned His hand against our adversaries. We would have seen victory in our battles. He would have brought the haters of the Lord into submission under Him.
We would have been preserved for ever. He would have cared for us spiritually. Also, all our physical needs would have been met, and God would have filled our lives and our mouths with sweet and happy things.
God says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
If we seek after God and His righteousness, if we develop our relationship with Him and trust in Him and serve Him, He will provide all that we require, including our material needs. He will not leave us destitute. Therefore, let us praise Him with music, feasting, and joy, and put our trust in Him.