Psalms 81 and 82

(These words are the modern version of the psalms, with their meaning intact. They are taken from Psalms/ Now by Leslie F. Brandt.)

Our great God has heard our cry and He is speaking to His church today.
I hear Him saying many things.
He reminds us that He is God in our world, the God who piloted His people through history, who regards His church with love and concern.
He would have us remember how He freed us from sin's burden and guilt, how He responded to our pleas for deliverance, and was present with us in the trials and conflicts of our lives.
He brings to our remembrance the many times we neglected to listen to Him and how He had to allow us to hurt ourselves because we stubbornly chose our own course.
He reiterates His promise to meet our needs and to enrich our lives as we rely on Him for grace and strength.
He diagnoses our sickness even today and points us to His purpose for our existence.

We have become complacent in our structures and institutions.
We have been subtly diverted from His will and purposes in our world.
We have selfishly interpreted His Word to fit our schemes and carry out our intents.
We have clutched at God to pacify and sustain us even while we remain insensitive to the suffering world about us.

Now God is speaking again, in judgement as well as with promise.
He is reaching out to restore us to Himself and to renew our vision for His world.
"How long will you ignore My oppressed and dispossessed children, their cries for liberty and justice?" our God is saying to the church.
"Why are there people going hungry about you while you abound in gifts from My hand?
You are My sons and servants, My representatives in a fractured world.
I can reach those sick, needy, loveless and lonely creatures only through you.
This is the reason I have given you so much, that you may share it with them."

Help us, O God, to return to Your purposes for Your church, to recognise all men as Your subjects, that the world belongs to You.
May your great love flood our lives, only to overflow and touch with healing, and to channel Your grace to the lives of every one of Your children.

You are in our world, O God.
May we serve You here by ministering to the needs of our fellowmen.