Psalms 81; Psalms 82; Psalms 83; Romans 11:19-36

1 Sing joyfully to God! He gives us strength. Give a loud shout to the God of Jacob!

2 Let the music begin. Play the tambourines. Play sweet music on harps and lyres.

3 Blow the ram's horn on the day of the New Moon Feast. Blow it again when the moon is full and the Feast of Booths begins.

4 This is an order given to Israel. It is a law of the God of Jacob.

5 He gave it as a covenant law for the people of Joseph when God went out to punish Egypt. There we heard a language we didn't understand.

6 God said, "I removed the load from your shoulders. I set your hands free from carrying heavy baskets.

7 You called out when you were in trouble, and I saved you. I answered you out of a thundercloud. I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. "Selah"

8 "My people, listen and I will warn you. Israel, I wish you would listen to me!

9 Don't have anything to do with the gods of other nations. Don't bow down and worship strange gods.

10 I am the LORD your God. I brought you up out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.

11 "But my people wouldn't listen to me. Israel wouldn't obey me.

12 So I let them go their own stubborn way. I let them follow their own sinful plans.

13 "I wish my people would listen to me! I wish Israel would live as I want them to live!

14 Then I would quickly bring their enemies under control. I would use my power against their attackers.

15 Those who hate me would bow down to me in fear. They would be punished forever.

16 But you would be fed with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with the sweetest honey."

1 God takes his place at the head of a large gathering of rulers and judges. He announces his decisions among them.

2 He says, "How long will you stand up for those who aren't fair to others? How long will you show favor to sinful people? "Selah"

3 Stand up for those who are weak and for those whose fathers have died. See to it that those who are poor and those who are beaten down are treated fairly.

4 Save the weak and those who are in need. Save them from the power of sinful people.

5 "You rulers and judges don't know anything. You don't understand anything. You are in the dark about what is right. Law and order have been destroyed all over the world.

6 "I said, 'Rulers and judges, you are "gods." You are all children of the Most High God.'

7 But you will die, just like everyone else. You will die like every other ruler."

8 God, rise up. Judge the earth. All of the nations belong to you.

1 God, don't keep silent. God, don't keep quiet. Don't be still.

2 See how your enemies are getting ready for action. See how they are rising up against you.

3 They make clever plans against your people. They make evil plans against those you love.

4 "Come," they say. "Let's destroy that whole nation. Then the name of Israel won't be remembered anymore."

5 All of them agree on the evil plans they have made. They join forces against you.

6 Their forces include the people of Edom, Ishmael, Moab and Hagar.

7 They also include the people of Byblos, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia and Tyre.

8 Even Assyria has joined them to give strength to the people of Moab and Ammon. "Selah"

9 Do to them what you did to the people of Midian. Do to them what you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.

10 Sisera and Jabin died near the town of Endor. Their bodies were left to rot on the ground.

11 Do to the nobles of your enemies what you did to Oreb and Zeeb. Do to all of their princes what you did to Zebah and Zalmunna.

12 They said, "Let's take over the grasslands that belong to God."

13 My God, make them like straw that the wind blows away. Make them like tumbleweed.

14 Destroy them as fire burns up a forest. Destroy them as a flame sets mountains on fire.

15 Chase them with your mighty winds. Terrify them with your storm.

16 Lord, put them to shame so that people will worship you.

17 May they always be filled with terror and shame. May they die in dishonor.

18 Your name is the Lord. Let them know that you alone are the Most High God over the whole earth.

19 You will say, "Some branches were broken off so that I could be joined to the tree."

20 That's true. But they were broken off because they didn't believe. You stand only because you do believe. So don't be proud. Be afraid.

21 God didn't spare the natural branches. He won't spare you either.

22 Think about how kind God is! Also think about how firm he is! He was hard on those who stopped following him. But he is kind to you. So you must continue to live in his kindness. If you don't, you also will be cut off.

23 If the people of Israel do not continue in their unbelief, they will again be joined to the tree. God is able to join them to the tree again.

24 After all, weren't you cut from a wild olive tree? Weren't you joined to an olive tree that was taken care of? And wasn't that the opposite of how things should be done? How much more easily will the natural branches be joined to their own olive tree!

25 Brothers and sisters, here is a mystery I want you to understand. It will keep you from being proud. Part of Israel has refused to obey God. That will continue until the full number of non-Jews has entered God's kingdom.

26 And so all Israel will be saved. It is written, "The One who saves will come from Mount Zion. He will remove sin from Jacob.

27 Here is my covenant with them. I will take away their sins." (Isaiah 59:20,21; 27:9; Jeremiah 31:33,34)

28 As far as the good news is concerned, the people of Israel are enemies. That is for your good. But as far as God's choice is concerned, the people of Israel are loved. That is because of God's promises to the founders of our nation.

29 God does not take back his gifts. He does not change his mind about those he has chosen.

30 At one time you did not obey God. But now you have received mercy because Israel did not obey.

31 In the same way, Israel has not been obeying God. But now they receive mercy because of God's mercy to you.

32 God has found everyone guilty of not obeying him. So now he can have mercy on everyone.

33 How very rich are God's wisdom and knowledge! How he judges is more than we can understand! The way he deals with people is more than we can know!

34 "Who can ever know what is in the Lord's mind? Or who can ever give him advice?" (Isaiah 40:13)

35 "Has anyone ever given anything to God, so that God has to pay him back?" (Job 41:11)

36 All things come from him. All things are directed by him. All things are for his good. May God be given the glory forever! Amen.