Congregational Worship

Oct 20

A Meditation on Psalm 81

“1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a rule of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (ESV)”

We can all agree that, regardless of our context — urban or rural, large numbers or small numbers, traditional or contemporary — congregational worship in our churches is of the utmost importance. Psalm 81 is a truly special Psalm for several reasons, which we do not have time to

discuss in this brief essay, but one of these reasons is its invaluable instruction for church worship. It reminds us that worship is not primarily about our preferences — it is about the will of God, taught to us by His Word. Through this Psalm, we are invited (and commanded) to worship

God as He desires to be worshiped. Consider the eighth verse, which lies at its very center: “Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!”

Psalm 81 is not a suggestion for spiritual enrichment. It is a divine pattern and admonishment! Therefore, let us take some time to briefly consider the counsel which our Lord gives each of us in this very precious piece of His Word.

Sing with Joy

The psalm opens with a call to “Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!” (v. 1). This is more than singing — it’s rejoicing! God calls His people to engage our hearts and voices with liveliness. Is your worship marked by joyful energy? Rural churches, though small in number, can be mighty in song when hearts are lifted high with sincere joy in Christ!

Worship: An Act of Faith

We sing to Someone. Psalm 81 calls God our strength — our dependable, faithful refuge — and the God of Jacob — the God who remains faithful to sinners whom He claims as His people. Every note we sing must rise from the foundation of faith in Christ. God is strong to save and is steadfast in His love toward us through His Son. Worship, then, becomes a faithful act of trust in His character and in the finished work of Christ our Savior.

Music with Intention

Verses 2–3 remind us to “raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.” Your church could be one of many traditions that have different views on the use of instruments during worship. Honor your conscience there. However, regardless of what your congregation utilizes to assist worship, God commands an offering of music that reflects the majesty of our King! How is your church using its music to glorify God?

Obey the Commands of Scripture

“For [worship] is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob (v. 4).” Worship is not our invention. It is commanded and regulated by Scripture. There is room for things like personal taste and cultural distinctions, but all must be regulated by our Lord’s instructions in His Word. Are we willing to conform our worship to the Bible, even if it means letting go of cherished traditions?

Remember His Works of Salvation

Psalm 81 recalls God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt (vv. 5–7), and for us, that points to Christ’s greater deliverance from sin and death. Worship must always remember and proclaim the gospel. Every prayer, song, and sermon should be soaked in the memory of what Christ has done to save His people. Are your services cross-centered?

Listen to the Word Preached

“Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!” (v. 8). Christ speaks through His Word, and His sheep listen. Do our churches treat the sermon as a divine summons, not just a lecture or devotional thought? All churches must protect this sacred moment of proclaiming God’s Word, resisting the temptation to treat preaching lightly.

Renounce Idols

“There shall be no strange god among you” (v. 9). Worship confronts idolatry. Every Sunday, we must come with hearts ready to forsake our “strange gods” — whether comfort, success, entertainment, or self. Christ alone must be enthroned in our hearts, both inside and outside the Church.

Draw Near Expectantly

“I am the Lord your God . . . Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (v. 10). Christ invites us to come hungry, expecting Him to satisfy us with Himself. This is not health-and-wealth theology; it is gospel abundance. Are we hungry for Christ in worship? Are we pleading with Him to fill us with truth, love, and grace?

Repent and Return

“But my people did not listen . . . So I gave them over” (vv. 11–12). Repentance and confession of sin are not just activities of daily Christian life; they’re something that should have a place in our worship as well. As a body of Christ, we should collectively confess our dire need for a Savior, faithfully trusting that God’s heart is full of mercy for His people. He will feed us with the finest wheat and honey from the rock (v. 16) — Christ Himself.

Psalm 81 is not just a poetic reflection; it is a charge. Are we singing joyfully, believing fully, worshiping biblically, and seeking Him expectantly? Let this psalm stir you and your church — not toward innovation, but toward obedience. Ask yourself and your congregation: How are we following Christ’s directions for worship? Where do we need to repent, realign, and rejoice?

In the fields and hills where your church gathers, Christ is still calling His people to worship in Spirit and in truth. May your worship resound with His glory!

Cameron stepped away from a career in medicine as a Physician Assistant and became the pastor of the Gold Church in 2020, and is currently furthering his studies at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He lives in rural Pennsylvania with his wife Heidi and their three young children. When not working on his pastoral duties and school work, Cameron spends his spare time golfing, hunting, playing guitar, spending time with his family, and indulging in his nerdiness with The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, etc.

Kathryn Puckett