Psalms 81:12

"But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me."

Key Reflection

In Psalms 81:12, the psalmist laments that despite his repeated calls and instructions to the people of Israel, they persistently ignored him. This verse reflects a common theme in the Old Testament where God expresses frustration at the lack of faith and obedience from his chosen people. The cultural context underscores the importance of listening to divine guidance; failure to do so was seen as rebellious and disrespectful, highlighting the serious nature of covenant disobedience.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust -Margin, as in Hebrew, to the hardness of their own hearts. Literally, “I sent them, or I dismissed them, to the hardness of their hearts.” I suffered them to have what, in the hardness of their hearts they desired, or what their hard and rebellious hearts prompted them to desire: I indulged them in their wishes. I gave them what they asked, and left them to themselves to work out the problem about success and happiness in their own way - to let them see what must be the result of forsaking the true God. The world - and the church too - has been often suffered to make this experiment.

More from Psalms 81

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