Psalms81

Psalms 81 begins with a vibrant call to joyful worship of God, emphasizing the use of musical instruments on solemn feast days, as this was a statute for Israel. The psalm then transitions to God's voice, recounting His deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage and lamenting their subsequent disobedience. God expresses a deep desire for His people to hearken to Him, promising abundant blessings and victory over enemies if they would walk in His ways.
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Call to Joyful Worship

1
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. ​
2
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3
Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. ​
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. ​

God Recalls the Exodus Deliverance

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

The Divine Command: Listen and Obey

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

Consequences of Disobedience and Missed Blessings

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

Study Notes for Psalms 81

Verse 1

The term 'Gittith' likely refers to a tune or musical instrument associated with the grape harvest or winepress, suggesting a joyous and robust style of music appropriate for a festival.

Verse 3

The call to blow the trumpet (shofar) in the new moon and appointed time refers specifically to the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) and potentially the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), mandated statutes for Israel.

Verse 5

To 'ordain in Joseph' means God instituted this law for Israel when He led them out of Egypt, often represented by Joseph (referring to the Northern Kingdom tribes). The Psalmist recalls the confusion and alienation of slavery in Egypt.

Verse 6

The shift here indicates that God is now speaking directly, recalling the physical liberation from the forced labor ('burden' and 'pots') of Egyptian bondage.

Verse 7

The 'secret place of thunder' refers to the thick cloud and divine revelation at Mount Sinai, where God established the covenant. Meribah (meaning 'quarreling') recalls the place where Israel tested God by demanding water.

Verse 8

This verse marks a dramatic transition to direct prophetic address (a divine oracle), setting forth the basic demands of the covenant relationship: hearing and obedience.

Verse 10

The command to 'open thy mouth wide' is a metaphor for complete dependence and trust; God promises to fill Israel with abundant provision—physical, spiritual, and intellectual—if they rely solely on Him.

Verse 12

This verse highlights the profound theological concept of divine abandonment (or judicial hardening), where God allows the people to suffer the consequences of their persistent refusal to submit to His guidance.

Verse 13

This expression of divine pathos reveals God's deep grief and longing for Israel to return to obedience so that He might pour out His protective blessings and fulfill His original purposes for them.

Verse 16

This verse promises ultimate provision and sustenance, illustrating the richness of the blessings missed through disobedience. 'Honey out of the rock' signifies miraculous provision, emphasizing God’s ability to bring forth abundance even from desolate places.

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