Psalms 81:13
If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,
BSB
ASV
Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways!
KJV
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
O that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! The condescending love of God expresses itself in painful regrets for Israel's sin and punishment. Such were the laments of Jesus over Jerusalem. Certain doctrinalists find a stumbling stone in such passages, and set themselves to explain them away, but to men in sympathy with the divine nature the words and the emotions are plain enough. A God of mercy cannot see men heaping up sorrow for themselves through their sins without feeling his compassion excited toward them.
Obedience would have secured all promised blessings and the subjection of foes. In this passage, "should have," "would have," &c., are better, "should" and "would" expressing God's intention at the time, that is, when they left Egypt.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Matthew 23:37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you…
leads to
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you…
He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.
May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them and carried them on His pinions.
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings
Through
Deuteronomy 5:29If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever.
leads to
If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.
Through
Isaiah 48:18If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.
leads to
If only they had such a heart to fear Me and keep all My commandments always, so that it might be well with them and with their children forever.
Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.