A pitiful cry is heard in one of the psalms, this one written by Asaph. The author quotes God as He grieves over His people, brokenhearted that they had forsaken Him, and had missed all of the blessings He had laid in store on their behalf. To His rebellious and deceived people, God said in…

Psalms 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

With a longing in His heart, the Lord reveals the compassion and mercy He had for His people. He loved them with an everlasting love, and was so disappointed in their behavior. He had done so much for them, and they rewarded His love by casting their love and affection at the feet of their abominable idols and false gods.

So much was God prepared to do for them. He had repeatedly told them that He would be there for them whenever they needed Him. He would be their Provider, and He would be their Protector. He was ready to destroy the enemies of His people, and make a way for them to exist free of fear from invasion.

The Lord had promised His people a land that flowed with milk and honey. After enjoying the bounty of that land, they became ungrateful and more and more interested in the gods of the heathen around them. God wanted to bless Israel, but Israel became resistant to His leadership, and desired to be free of His rule. Their hearts hardened as their rebellion intensified.

The recipients of the Promised Land no longer resembled the people of God at all. They had taken on the very image of the people groups they had driven out of the land. Their wickedness had become even greater than their heathen neighbors.

God had so desired to shower His affection on His people. He said in…

Psalms 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

The finest of wheat and the sweetest honey were ready to be enjoyed by them, if it were not for their black hearts. The many blessings awaiting their pleasure were set aside in light of their spiritual condition. God could not bless the people who had turned their backs on Him; He was forced to bring judgment to them instead of blessing.

Tragically, there are many times when we put up barriers to God’s blessings. As our hearts are drawn after the bright lights of the world, and give more admiration to what the world has to offer, than to our loving God, those many blessings become shelved in Heaven, waiting for a hopeful time in the future when our hearts are devoted to Him.

The first commandment is still the driving force behind God’s decisions; ‘Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.’