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Psalm 81:12-14
New Catholic Bible
Psalm 81:12-14
New Catholic Bible
12 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel refused to obey me.[a]
13 So I abandoned them to their stubborn hearts[b]
and let them follow their own devices.
14 [c]“If only my people would listen to me,
if only Israel would walk in my ways,[d]
Footnotes
- Psalm 81:12 Instead of remaining loyal to the Lord out of gratitude for their redemption and his promise of the future, the people continued to rebel against him—a characteristic typical of their history beginning with the generation in the wilderness (see Pss 78; 95; 106).
- Psalm 81:13 God gives the people over to their sins (see Ps 78:29; Isa 6:9f; 29:10; 63:17; see also Rom 1:24, 26, 28) because of their stubborn hearts; but he always reserves the right to “circumcise” their hearts and bring them back to him (see Deut 30:6; 1 Ki 8:58; Jer 31:33; Ezek 11:19; 36:26). Hearts: see note on Ps 4:8.
- Psalm 81:14 An allusion to the covenant blessings; the era of wars and persecutions will cease (see Lk 21:24), their enemies will be vanquished, and the people will enjoy the best of everything.
- Psalm 81:14 The Lord cannot abandon his people completely. He calls them to return to him and follow his ways, i.e., his commandments (see Pss 27:11; 86:11; 128:1; 143:8). For if they listen to God’s word, they will respond by faith and repentance, and carry out his will rather than their own.
