I Answered You out of a Thundercloud …

Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Raise a song, strike the timbrel,
the sweet sounding lyre with the harp.
Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
this is a decree for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
He established it for a testimony in Joseph,
when he went throughout the land of Egypt.
I heard a language that I did not know:

“I removed the burden from their shoulders;
their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called and I rescued you,
I answered you out of a thundercloud;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Hear Me, my people, and I will warn you—
if you would only listen to me, Israel!
Let there be no strange god among you;
nor shall you worship any god other than Me.
I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

“But my people did not listen to my voice;
And Israel did not obey me.
So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
to walk in their own devices.
“Oh that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
How quickly I would subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the LORD would cringe before Him,
and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Psalm 81