(Worship leader: Use that guitar from Gath for this Asaph song.)
Sing your hearts out to God,
Who makes us strong.
Shout your lungs out to Jacob’s God.
Don’t hold back, band!
Drummer, lay down the beat.
Guitars and keys, fill in the melody.
Blow the shofar on the New Moon,
When the night sky is empty of its light.
Blow it again on the Full Moon
So bright.
Blow it to start the Passover celebrating.
It’s a basic rule in Israel,
What Jacob’s God told us to do.
When God went head-to-head against Egypt,
He set this up
So we descendants of Joseph won’t ever forget.
From out of nowhere, I heard a voice:
“I took the weight off your backs,
Took the picking basket from your hands.
You prayed your distress
And I took care of everything.
From a bruised and swollen thundercloud,
I spoke to you.
But almost immediately, we quarreled
At the Fountain of Quarreling,
Called Meribah.
So, listen to me, my people.
You really don’t want to get this wrong.
Oh, why won’t you listen, Israel?
This is what I want you to hear:
I won’t tolerate any other “God.”
I won’t put up with you giving your hearts
To some other “God.”
I’m Yahweh.
I’m your God.
I’m the one who got you out of Egypt.
You opened your mouth like a baby bird,
And I’m the one who filled it.
“I told my people to listen, but did they?
Not at all.
They didn’t obey in the least.
So, I let them do what they wanted,
Let them follow their dreams,
Let them follow their selfish hearts.
“You know what would happen
If my people actually listened to me?
If Israel actually did what I said?
I’d make short work of their enemies,
Make their haters shut up and shut down.
Yahweh’s haters would curl up in a ball,
Knowing the consequences would be severe.
But you would sit down to a table
Piled high with the best meal ever,
Flavors rich and savory,
Sumptuous and sweet.
And for the first time,
You’d be satisfied.
For I would be your satisfaction.”