There are two readings today.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 81
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. [Psalm 81:11-12]
This Psalm is a reading at the New Moon festival, a Hallel (or ‘praise’) read at the beginning of the new month with a special sacrifice.
It reminds the people of God’s grace in the past, and His desire to bless them in the future, if they remain true to Him.
If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, … you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. [Psalm 81:13,16]
But as the opening verse states, the people did not remain true, so God allowed them to experience what life was like without Him.
He gave them over to their heart’s desire…

When a rich young ruler, who was also very religious, came to Jesus looking for inner peace with God, Jesus loved the man.
But He also saw that the man’s heart was divided, that he was more full of himself and his wealth than desire for God.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. [Mark 10:21-23]
Jesus knows this is impossible for the man, but He is trying to get the man to seek God’s mercy and help, to admit His worldly, wayward heart.
But the man’s deepest heart desire was more for himself and his wealth than it was for God, and he went away from Jesus sad.

Notice that Jesus does not go running after him; rather He gives him over to the desires of his heart, to follow his own devices.
This is not cruel of God, nor unloving of Jesus; it is because of His love that He gives them over – its what they want!
God gives us what we want and we receive the consequences of our desires.
God prefers to bless us with His abundance, but if we refuse, He does not force us to obey and follow Him.
His intent is that as they experience the result of their desires, that they will realize their mistake and come back to Him for mercy and help.
Think of the father in the parable of the prodigal son, giving his son the desired inheritance, even though he knew it would make him miserable.
The end of that story is a son that is closer to his father because now he realizes what life without the father is really like.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. [Romans 1:28-29]
God does not stop bad things from happening, nor does He stop bad people from doing bad things; He gives us over to our depraved desires and minds.
This is why the world is filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity – don’t blame God, it’s what human nature craves.
His purpose is to make us see what life is like without Him, and to come to our senses and return to Him.

The Jews used a new month to remind themselves of this; we can use a new day, a new week, a new month, or a new year, as a time to remember and renew our commitment to the Lord.
He loves us, and desires to bless us.
But He will give us what our hearts really desire.
Be careful what you wish for.

PRAYER:
Lord, reveal my true desires to me, show me whether I am more full of myself than You. I want to desire You more, I want to know You better!