EGW WritingsPsalms 81

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8

Chapter 1—Our Work

8T 12.3

“Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.” Psalm 81:1, 2.

Radiant Religion

With Singing, Timbrel, Harp, and Psaltery, September 2

RRe 247.1

Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with psaltery. Psalm 81:1, 2.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Lt 199, 1903

18LtMs, Lt 199, 1903, par. 17

“Sing aloud unto God our strength; make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.” [Psalm 81:1, 2.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 9 (1894)

Lt 34, 1894

9LtMs, Lt 34, 1894, par. 43

Parents neglect their responsibility, and do not search for themselves to know what saith the Lord in regard to His holy law. Therefore they fail to teach their children to walk in the way of God’s precepts. “Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with psaltery. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.” [Psalm 81:1-4.]

The Minnesota Worker

March 14, 1900

MinnWorker March 14, 1900, par. 5

The Spirit of God says in Psalm 27, 28, 29, 81, 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93: “These were written for those upon whom the ends of the world are come.” This being so, we should make them our every day study. Why not preserve this number of the worker, and read the above over and over again, and study the heavens?

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Ms 96, 1899

14LtMs, Ms 96, 1899, par. 22

The eighty-first psalm explains why Israel was scattered. They forgot God, as the churches in our land are forgetting Him today. Read the eighty-ninth, ninetieth, ninety-first, ninety-second, and ninety-third psalms. My attention has been called to these matters. Shall we not consider the word of the Lord? These things were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come, and should they not be the objects of study in our schools? The Word of God contains instructive lessons, given in reproof, in warning, in encouragement, and in rich promises. Would not such food as this be meat in due season to the youth?

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)

Ms 183, 1898

13LtMs, Ms 183, 1898, par. 52

I see the danger for all teachers and people who do not render implicit obedience to their knowledge of the will of God. Many claim to be doing the service that God requires, but it is not so. They do their own will and their own way. In every trouble and perplexity we have the privilege and invitation “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6. Here is the danger and inclination of the human agent—to lean to his own understanding in place of trusting our heavenly Father implicitly. The Lord will honor the faith of those who cultivate faith and trust. This is His assurance: “I am the Lord thy God; I will show him my salvation.” [See Psalm 81:10; 91:16.] Why do we not take the Word of God as truth?

Patriarchs and Prophets

Chapter 40—Balaam

PP 440.4

There are thousands at the present day who are pursuing a similar course. They would have no difficulty in understanding their duty if it were in harmony with their inclinations. It is plainly set before them in the Bible or is clearly indicated by circumstances and reason. But because these evidences are contrary to their desires and inclinations they frequently set them aside and presume to go to God to learn their duty. With great apparent conscientiousness they pray long and earnestly for light. But God will not be trifled with. He often permits such persons to follow their own desires and to suffer the result. “My people would not hearken to My voice.... So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” Psalm 81:11, 12. When one clearly sees a duty, let him not presume to go to God with the prayer that he may be excused from performing it. He should rather, with a humble, submissive spirit, ask for divine strength and wisdom to meet its claims.

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3

Chapter 6—Experience Not Reliable

3T 73.1

Balaam inquired of God if he might curse Israel, because in so doing he had the promise of great reward. And God said, “Thou shalt not go;” but he was urged by the messengers, and greater inducements were presented. Balaam had been shown the will of the Lord in this matter, but he was so eager for the reward that he ventured to ask God the second time. The Lord permitted Balaam to go. Then he had a wonderful experience, but who would wish to be guided by such an experience? There are those who would understand their duty clearly if it were in harmony with their natural inclinations. Circumstances and reason may clearly indicate their duty; but when against their natural inclination, these evidences are frequently set aside. Then these persons will presume to go to God to learn their duty. But God will not be trifled with. He will permit such persons to follow the desires of their own hearts. Psalm 81:11, 12: “But My people would not hearken to My voice.” “So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.”

The Watchman

September 1, 1908

SW September 1, 1908, par. 7

There are persons who would understand their duty clearly, if their duty was in harmony with their natural inclinations. Reason and circumstances may point out their duty clearly; but when the path of duty is not in line with their inclinations, these evidences are frequently set aside. Then these persons will presume to go to God to learn their duty. But God will not be trifled with. He will permit such persons to follow the desires of their own hearts. “My people would not hearken to my voice,” he says; “so I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust; and they walked in their own counsels.” Psalm 81:11, 12.

The Review and Herald

July 27, 1886

RH July 27, 1886, par. 6

Balaam inquired of God if he might curse Israel, because in so doing he had the promise of great reward. God said, Ye shall not go; but he was urged by the messengers, and greater inducements were presented. Balaam had been shown the will of the Lord in this matter, but he was so eager for the reward that he ventured to ask God the second time. The Lord permitted Balaam to go. Then he had a wonderful experience; but who would wish to be guided by such an experience as that of Balaam? There are those who would understand their duty clearly if their duty was in harmony with their natural inclinations. Circumstances and reason may indicate clearly their duty, but when against their natural inclination, these evidences are frequently set aside. Then these persons will presume to go to God to learn their duty. But God will not be trifled with. He will permit such persons to follow the desires of their own hearts. Psalm 81:11, 12: “But my people would not hearken to my voice; ... So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust; and they walked in their own counsels.”

From Eternity Past

How One Sin Opened the Door to Satan’s Control

EP 311.4

Thousands at the present day are pursuing a similar course. Their duty is plainly set before them in the Bible or clearly indicated by circumstances and reason. But because these evidences are contrary to their inclinations, they set them aside and presume to go to God to learn their duty. They pray long and earnestly for light. But God will not be trifled with. He often permits such persons to follow their own desires and suffer the result. “My people would not hearken to My voice... . So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” Psalm 81:11, 12. When one clearly sees a duty, let him not go to God with the prayer that he may be excused from performing it.

Testimony for the Church — No. 21

Epistle Number Two

T21 107.1

Balaam inquired of God if he might curse Israel, because in so doing he had the promise of great reward. God said, Ye shall not go; but he was urged by the messengers, and greater inducements were presented. Balaam had been shown the will of the Lord in this matter, but he was so eager for the reward that he ventured to ask God the second time. The Lord permitted Balaam to go. Then he had a wonderful experience; but who would wish to be guided by such an experience as that of Balaam? There are those who would understand their duty clearly if their duty was in harmony with their natural inclinations. Circumstances and reason may indicate clearly their duty, but when against their natural inclination, these evidences are frequently set aside. Then these persons will presume to go to God to learn their duty. But God will not be trifled with. He will permit such persons to follow the desires of their own hearts. Psalm 81:11, 12: “But my people would not hearken to my voice; so I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust; and they walked in their own counsels.”

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 15 (1900)

Ms 80, 1900

15LtMs, Ms 80, 1900, par. 19

But the mournful words that God spoke of Israel He will be obliged to speak of many, many living on the earth today. “My people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust, and they walked in their own counsels.” God would have rejoiced to number them with the saints in light, but He could not; for they refused all His invitations and appeals. He says, “O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him; but their time should have endured forever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” [Psalm 81:11-16.]

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 12 (1897)

Lt 38, 1897

12LtMs, Lt 38, 1897, par. 13

I believe the Lord will work in behalf of Brethren Miller and Woods, and bring them back to the office. Our Saviour is the Restorer. How He longs to gather his children together as a hen gathers her brood under his wings. “O that his people had hearkened unto him, and Israel had walked in his ways.” [Psalm 81:13.] It is blinding unbelief and self-sufficiency that will not permit those that are in error to know Him. Then they would not crucify to themselves the Lord of glory and put Him to an open shame. We must cultivate faith. We must believe at every step, and talk courage and hope. Light, precious light is for the people of God who will see it.

Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 14 (1899)

Lt 193, 1899

14LtMs, Lt 193, 1899, par. 2

As Christ gazed down from the Mount of Olives upon the doomed and guilty, impenitent city, He exclaimed with broken, tearful utterance, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace.” Here He hesitates before He pronounces the irrevocable sentence. The language of His soul is, “O that my people had hearkened unto me.” But at last come the words, “But now they are hid from thine eyes.” [Luke 19:42; Psalm 81:13.]