Psalms 81: Open Your Mouth Wide

Psalm 81 is by Asaph, on an instrument of Gath, as the title says. It calls Israel to sing aloud to God at the feast with tambourine, lyre, harp and trumpet. Then God speaks: I removed his shoulder from the burden. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Oh that my people would listen to me!

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Bible:

Read Psalms 81

World English Bible · 16 verses

¹ For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph. Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ “I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Selah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Psalms 81 · Preschool

Sing a Song

Name Date

Color the trumpet and the harp. Let's sing to God!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.”

Psalms 81:2 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Let's make music for God! Shake a pretend tambourine and sing to God!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 81 · Grade 4

A Feast and a Warning

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 81 says it is by Asaph, on an instrument of Gath. It begins as a festival song. Sing aloud to God, our strength! Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. The feast was a statute God gave Israel to remember how he freed them from Egypt.

Then God speaks through the psalm. He remembers the slavery: I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket. He also remembers testing them at the waters of Meribah. He gives the first command again: There shall be no strange god in you. Then comes a generous promise: Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Sadly, Israel did not listen, so God let them walk in their own stubborn ways. Yet the psalm ends with God's longing: Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! He would have fed them with the finest of the wheat and satisfied them with honey out of the rock.

Show What You Know

Why did Israel keep this feast?
What burden did God remove?
What command does God repeat?
What happened when Israel did not listen?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

SingmouthtrumpetEgyptGod

aloud to God, our strength!
Blow the at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
The feast was a statute God gave Israel to remember how he freed them from .
Then speaks through the psalm.
Then comes a generous promise: Open your wide, and I will fill it.

Think About It

What does it mean to open your mouth wide for God to fill?
Why do you think God longs for his people to listen?

Memory Verse

“I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”

Psalms 81:10 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for feeding us with good things. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What could become more important to you than God?
How does God give people what they choose?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 81 · Grade 5

Oh That My People Would Listen

Name Date

Read and Think

The title says The title of Psalm 81 says it is by Asaph, for the Chief Musician, on an instrument of Gath. It moves from joyful worship to sober warning. The opening calls the community to the festival with song, tambourine, lyre, harp and trumpet. The feast is a statute for Israel, connected to God going out over the land of Egypt.

From verse 6 God speaks. He recalls redemption: I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket, a picture of forced labor. He recalls testing: I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Then he restates the heart of the covenant: I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. God's generosity is unlimited, but it must be received.

The tragedy is refusal. My people didn't listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me. So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts. God's judgment here is to give them what they chose. Yet he still pleads: Oh that my people would listen to me! Obedience would bring victory and abundance, the finest of the wheat and honey out of the rock. Worship that does not listen misses the feast.

Show What You Know

How does the psalm move?
What does the basket picture?
What is God's judgment in verse 12?
What does the psalm teach about worship?

Crossword

Across

____ aloud to God.
Blow the trumpet at the New ____.
Blow the ____ at the New Moon.

Down

When he went out over the land of ____.
Open your ____ wide.

Think About It

How can a person sing to God but still not listen to him?
What good things might God want to give you if you listen?

Memory Verse

“Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!”

Psalms 81:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for feeding us with good things. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you make sure your heart is paying attention during worship?
How can we open our mouths wide to God?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Psalms 81: Open Your Mouth Wide

Read Psalms 81

Worksheets

Sing a Song

Prayer

Take It Home

Sing to God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Listen to Me

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Sing for Joy

Prayer

Take It Home

Open Your Mouth

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Oh That My People Would Listen

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Sing for Joy

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

A Feast and a Warning

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Oh That My People Would Listen

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options