Slices
Prepare
‘Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…’* Use a song or hymn of worship that expresses your faith in God as you come to him now.
*John Henry Sammis, 1846–1919
Bible passage
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of Asaph.
1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious harp and lyre.
3 Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;
4 this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 When God went out against Egypt,
he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:
6 ‘I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8 Hear me, my people, and I will warn you –
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
9 You shall have no foreign god among you;
you shall not worship any god other than me.
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
11 ‘But my people would not listen to me;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own devices.
13 ‘If my people would only listen to me,
if Israel would only follow my ways,
14 how quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
and their punishment would last for ever.
16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.’
Explore
This psalm reflects the push and pull of the relationship between God and his people. It opens with a call to worship, for music to be played and New Moon trumpets to be sounded. There should be a joyful response to the strength of God, which Asaph reminds people of (v 5).
Verses 6–10 are God speaking. He reminds his people of his own actions for them during the Exodus: he removed their burden, rescued them, answered them, tested them and brought them up. The occasion referred to at Meribah was when they arrived at a place with no water, and quarrelled with Moses, questioning why he had brought them out of Egypt (Exodus 17:1–7). But God still provided for them then.
Verses 11–16 are full of sad longing: if only the people weren’t stubborn and going their own way, if only they’d listen, then God would be right there to defend them and would satisfy their hunger with fine provisions.
The people of Israel’s history is full of this push and pull. Our final Leviticus reading will show this quite clearly, and this psalm reminds us that listening to God and obeying him are always the best things to do.
Respond
However your relationship with God is at the moment, be assured and reassured that whenever we respond to him in faith, he runs to meet us (Luke 15:20). Run to him now.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 5,6; Psalms 40,41
Pray for Scripture Union
Praise God for all the generations of children and young people who have found a deeper faith in Jesus through going on an SU holiday or mission. (Today's prayer relate to this article.)
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
