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Day 206

Psalm 81:9a "There shall be no foreign god among you..."

Day 206 – Psalm 81

“There shall be no foreign god among you…” Psalm 81:9a

ISRAEL’S MONOTHEISTIC FAITH

From the very beginning, Israel’s faith was meant to be monotheistic. This was encoded in their Shema.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God,
the LORD is one!”
Deuteronomy 6:4

This fundamental truth was emphasized time and again, but this admonition from God fell on deaf ears. In God’s answer to Asaph’s prayer, this great truth was brought up again.

“There shall be no foreign god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god.”
Psalm 81:9

1. “There shall be no foreign god among you”

a) This was clearly stated in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-3).
b) This teaching was part of the Covenantal agreement Israel agreed to uphold (Exodus 24:1-8).

2. “Nor shall you worship any foreign god”

a) Foreign gods were found among the sons of Jacob (Genesis 35:4).
b) The children of Israel worshipped a golden calf in the days of Moses (Exodus 32:1-6).
c) Israel continued worshipping idols (Psalm 78:58).
d) This admonition went unheeded.

WHY HAD GOD NOT ANSWERED ISRAEL’S PRAYERS IMMEDIATELY?

We have another answer as to why God did not respond to Israel’s cries in the above text.

1. Israel had set aside God and His laws.

2. The nation had chosen to turn to “foreign gods”.

3. God was right in choosing to remain silent when Israel cried out in their time of trouble.

a) The nation had to learn that their foreign gods could not help them.
b) The children of Israel had to determine that they would forsake their idolatrous ways first.
c) They must return to God in humble and genuine repentance if they wanted to have their prayers answered.