PSALM 81

Ps 81:1-16. Gittith-(See on [614]Ps 8:1, title). A festal Psalm, probably for the passover (compare Mt 26:30), in which, after an exhortation to praise God, He is introduced, reminding Israel of their obligations, chiding their neglect, and depicting the happy results of obedience.

1. our strength-(Ps 38:7).

2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

2. unites the most joyful kinds of music, vocal and instrumental.

3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

3. the new moon-or the month.

the time appointed-(Compare Pr 7:20).

4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.

5. a testimony-The feasts, especially the passover, attested God's relation to His people.

Joseph-for Israel (Ps 80:1).

went out through-or, "over," that is, Israel in the exodus.

I heard-change of person. The writer speaks for the nation.

language-literally, "lip" (Ps 14:1). An aggravation or element of their distress that their oppressors were foreigners (De 28:49).

6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

6. God's language alludes to the burdensome slavery of the Israelites.

7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

7. secret place-the cloud from which He troubled the Egyptians (Ex 14:24).

proved thee-(Ps 7:10; 17:3)-tested their faith by the miracle.

8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

8. (Compare Ps 50:7). The reproof follows to Ps 81:12.

if thou wilt hearken-He then propounds the terms of His covenant: they should worship Him alone, who (Ps 81:10) had delivered them, and would still confer all needed blessings.

9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

11, 12. They failed, and He gave them up to their own desires and hardness of heart (De 29:18; Pr 1:30; Ro 11:25).

12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

13-16. 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.

14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.