Psalms 81

REFLECTIONS UPON PSALM LXXXI.—God’s saving relations are a delightful foundation of our warmest praise. Deliverances from God, as well as his authoritative command, oblige us to a punctual observance of his ordinances of worship. And nothing can do it more effectually than our eternal redemption through Christ. How ready is God to help and to save those who call upon him in trouble! And all our obedience is delightfully founded on his gospel grant of himself to us as our God. His service must then be our highest interest as well as duty. Past obligations are sufficient to engage our hearts, even though we had no future promises in view. And, when God grants himself and his fulness, our desires or prayers for enjoyment can never be too much enlarged. They only, who have him for their portion, have all that heart can wish. But how terrible is the punishment of a wilful refusal of his gracious offers! What loss of victory over enemies, of perpetuated enjoyments, and of delightful provision! Alas! what enemies are sinners to their own souls! And they, who resist God’s word and Spirit, have only their own wilfulness to blame when their destruction comes. Their perishing is not through want of compassion in God, but through the hardness and impenitence of their own hearts