亞薩的詩集(詩50，73-83)以六首見證以色列上帝的偉大與信實為結束。祂遵守過去的應許(詩78)──面對不可知的未來，這是一個安慰，也是一個提醒(詩79-80)；一旦要擊打偶像及敵人的時候，上帝始終同在(詩81)，祂也絕不緘默(詩82-83)

        沒有比想起過去應該完成卻未做到的事更令人傷心難過了！那未能付諸行動的潛能總有辦法把你拉回失敗的情景中，並在你耳畔低語：「如果你曾經……。」
        在以色列漫長的歷史中，有許多「應該做」的事，他們應該耐心的在西乃山腳下，等候摩西帶著上帝的律法歸來，但他們卻沒有：他們應該相信約書亞與迦勒窺探應許之地後充滿信心的報告，但他們卻沒有：他們應該完全殲滅迦南人與全地的異族，但他們卻沒有：以色列人一而再，再而三的背叛上帝，因而失去許多上帝原想賜給他們的祝福。
        請重讀詩篇八十一篇十三至十六節。每當你讀到「應該做到」的事，便把它圈起來，然後捫心自問：「明年當我回首今年的時候，我會不會說我應該做某些事情，卻沒有去做呢？現在我該做什麼，以確保上帝的祝福不是「應該」或「可能」在我的生命中，而是已經在我的生命中！」

新月之歌
        詩篇八十一篇極似一年一度在會幕節慶上所唱的詩歌(詩81：3，比較利23：24)，這個歡樂的節慶是紀念他們在曠野流浪時，因為上帝的信實而能安然度過。每逢第七年就要宣讀上帝的律法(申3l：10-13)，好讓每個家庭都「使他們聽……學習，好敬畏耶和華……謹守遵行這律法的一切話。」

人生最深切的痛楚是想起一些該做卻未做的事──而今想做已然太遲。

English

        The psalms of Asaph (50, 73-83) conclude with six testimonies to the greatness and faithfulness of the God of Israel. He has kept His promises in the past (78)—a comforting reminder in the face of an uncertain future (79-80), God is there (81) and He is not silent (82-83) when it comes to overthrowing idols and enemies.

        There is nothing quite so sad as recalling what might have been. Unfulfilled potential has a way of drawing you back to the scene of the failure and whispering in your ear, "If only you had ..,"
        There were many "should haves" in Israel's long history. They should have waited patiently at the foot of Mount Sinai for Moses to return with the law of God ... but they didn't. They should have believed the faith-inspired reports of Joshua and Caleb after spying out the Promised Land ... but they didn't. They should have utterly destroyed the Canaanites and other pagan peoples in the land ... but they didn't. And the Israelites' repeated failure to obey God caused them to forfeit many blessings which God wanted to give them ... but couldn't.
        Reread Psalm 81:13-16. Circle the words "should have" every time you find them. Then ask yourself this question: "Next year, when I look back on this year, what will I say I should have been doing that I am not currently doing? What can I do now to ensure that God's blessings are not just things that should have been or could have been in my life, but in fact have been?"

A Song to Be Sung When the Moon Is New —
        Psalm 81 was most likely sung at the annual Feast of Tabernacles (v, 3; compare Leviticus 23:24), a festive occasion commemorating God's faithfulness during the wilderness wandering. Every seventh year it culminated with the reading of the Law of God (Deuteronomy 31:10-13), in order that the families might "hear, and ... learn, and fear the LORD ... and observe to do all the words of this law."

The keenest pain comes from remembering what you should do—a day too late to do it.