It’s never fun to have a conversation with someone who just isn’t paying attention. If they’re constantly fidgeting, looking bored, or not making eye contact—if they offer no response when you finish speaking, or they change the subject out of the blue—these are pretty good signs they are not listening. It can make you feel frustrated and unimportant, like you don’t matter. Psalm 81 is remarkable because of its position as the central psalm of the whole collection. Of course, it doesn’t stand as the numerical center of 150 chapters. But the Psalms consist of five “books,” (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), with Psalm 81 at the center of the center book. And at the center of Psalm 81 are these words: “O Israel, if you would but listen to Me!” (v 8b). For all the mysteries of God’s providence with Israel, here is the central truth: Israel was suffering a crisis of exile because they were not listening to God. They treated Him like He was unimportant, as if His words didn’t matter. Israel’s failure to listen was a failure of faith and obedience. At the heart of the Mosaic covenant, God had commanded His people, “Hear, O Israel” (Deut. 6:4), and that command is echoed in Psalm 81: “Hear, O my people!” (v 8a). The psalm was written to celebrate a season of important religious festivals in Israel: “Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day” (v 3). The new moon marked the new year in the liturgical calendar of the nation. By a series of festivals, the people were called to humbly reflect on all God had done for them, rejoicing in His mighty salvation (v 1-2). In their distress, God listened. They suffered as slaves in Egypt, but He heard their cries and answered them. God came to their rescue, lifting the burdens from their shoulders and freeing their hands from the baskets with which they had carried the bricks for Pharaoh’s massive building projects (v 4-7, 10a). And God reminds His people that He can deliver them again, judging their enemies and satisfying them with the best of all spiritual and physical provisions. If we would but open our mouths wide, He would fill them. God is perfectly able to satisfy all our deepest needs and longings (v 10b, 14-16). The problem is, Israel has not followed God’s law or worshiped Him in purity. They had preferred their own wisdom to God’s. So the LORD gave them over to their own stubborn hearts and foolish counsels. “Oh, that My people would listen to Me,” He says, “that Israel would walk in My ways!” (v 9-13). For further meditation: 2 Chronicles 7:14 Psalm 40:6-8 Matthew 17:5