Bible Commentaries
Psalms 81

Verse 1

81:1 [To the chief Musician upon {a} Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph.] Sing {b} aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

(a) An instrument of music brought from Geth.

(b) It seems that this psalm was appointed for solemn feasts and assemblies of the people to whom for a time these ceremonies were ordained, but now under the gospel are abolished.

Verse 3

81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the {c} new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

(c) Under this feast he comprehends all other solemn days.

Verse 5

81:5 This he ordained in {d} Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: [where] I heard a language [that] {e} I understood not.

(d) That is, in Israel for Joseph’s family was counted the chief while before, Judah was preferred.

(e) God speaks in the person of the people because he was their leader.

Verse 6

81:6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the {f} pots.

(f) If they were never able to give sufficient thanks to God, for this deliverance from corporal bondage, how much more are we indebted to him for our spiritual deliverance from the tyranny of Satan and sin?

Verse 7

81:7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I {g} answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

(g) By a strange and wonderful fashion.

Verse 8

81:8 {h} Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

(h) He condemns all assemblies where the people are not attentive to hear God’s voice, and to give obedience to the same.

Verse 10

81:10 I [am] the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: {i} open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

(i) God accuses their incredulity, because they did not open their mouths to receive God’s benefits in such abundance as he pours them out.

Verse 13

81:13 {k} Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in my ways!

(k) God by his word calls all, but his secret election appoints who will bear fruit.

Verse 14

81:14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand {l} against their adversaries.

(l) If their sins had not.

Verse 15

81:15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time {m} should have endured for ever.

(m) If the Israelites had not broken covenant with God, he would have given them victory against their enemies.

Verse 16

81:16 He should have fed them also with the {n} finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

(n) That is, with most fine wheat and abundance of honey.