Psalm 81:10 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Whatsoever be the needs or the desires of God's people, there is abundance of grace for the supplying of the needs, and the satisfying of the desires, Compare our Lord's saying to his disciples, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full," The figure in the text is explained in Thomson's 'Land and the Book.' "It is said to have been a custom in Persia, that when the king wishes to do a visitor especial honour, he desires him to open his mouth wide, and the king then crams it full of sweetmeats, and sometimes even with jewels. And to this day it is a mark of politeness in Orientals to tear off the daintiest bits of meat for a guest, and either lay them before him, or put them in his mouth." In declaring himself to be Israel's God, and demanding the sole and entire worship of the people, Jehovah graciously adds the assurance, that he is at once able and willing to meet and supply all their need. He could not ask their entire trust if he was not efficient to meet all their wants. There was no call to seek the help of any strange god, for they were in no sense straitened in Jehovah. This subject may be applied to Christians by taking illustrations, from the history of Israel's wanderings, of the following points. I. SUFFICIENCY IN GOD FOR ISRAEL'S KNOWN NEEDS. These concerned (1) daily supply; (2) wise guidance; (3) efficient defence; (4) patient bearing with infirmities; (5) provision for social relations and national requirements. So we can never think of any want we have that is beyond God's supply. II. SUFFICIENCY IN GOD FOR ISRAEL'S UNKNOWN NEEDS. For our real needs are not those we find out for ourselves. Those are our superficial needs, and often not even real needs. It introduces a surprise of grace to say there is the supply in God of all the needs of which he knows and we do not. Often it is God's supplying us that brings the consciousness of the need. Flow good that God's grace is not limited by our knowledge! III. SUFFICIENCY IN GOD IS ASSOCIATED WITH GOOD WILL. That gets expression in gracious and satisfying assurances and promises. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. |
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