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Today’s reading comes from Psalm 81, 88, 92, and 93. The first two were written by musicians whose names are becoming familiar to us—the sons of Asaph and of Korah. The authors of the other two psalms are unknown, though some have speculated that Psalm 92 was written by either David or even Adam. Personally, I find Adam a stretch, since verse 3 references musical instruments like the lyre, which likely didn’t exist in Adam’s time. Still, it’s helpful to dig deeper into these psalms—not just to uncover authorship but to see the bigger and connected story of Scripture. These aren’t separate, disconnected books and stories; they form one unfolding narrative explaining God’s love for and faithfulness to His people.

In Psalm 81, the psalmist (a son of Asaph) writes of God’s desire for His people; that they would listen to and obey Him. If only Israel would have listened to His voice, their journey would’ve looked so different. He would have delivered them from their enemies and led them in victory. But instead, they chose to ignore His voice and follow the ways of the world. Verse 12 captures God’s response:

“So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.”

When I read this it reminded me of the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 1:24–25:

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity... because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”

My friends, God is patient, but don’t allow that amazing dynamic of His character lure you into a false reality where wishy-washy faith is acceptable. God knows when people are living and will continue to live a habitual lifestyle of rejecting His truth. And He will only permit that to go on for so long. But take hope and act on it today before it’s too late. His desire is always our surrender and restoration.

Psalm 88, from the sons of Korah, speaks to the “consequential” effect of walking in righteousness. It’s an honest psalm explaining the loneliness and the rejection that can be experienced when one is sold out for God. Those who fully commit to God may find themselves shunned or even mocked by others. But the encouragement here is to stay engaged with God—because we know the end of the story.

Psalm 92 shares the beauty that is the spiritual blessings we experience as His faithful children. It speaks of the joy and satisfaction of being on the Lord’s side. It’s a psalm of assurance—reminding the reader that the righteous will prevail, while the wicked will ultimately fall. Knowing and believing that we are on the Lord’s side brings lasting comfort.

Finally, Psalm 93 reminds us of God’s immutability (unchanging quality) and His sovereignty. He is not shaken by the chaos around us. He is our firm foundation—our unmovable rock (referring to the last verse of Psalm 92).

Takeaway: Even when our journey seems lonely and/or discouraging, there is deep security and lasting encouragement in staying rooted in God. Listen for His voice, remain engaged, and rest in the truth that our God reigns and will not be moved.