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Annotations & References
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Psalms 81
Psalms
Chapter 81
81
1Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast-day.
4For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, WhereI heard a language that I knew not.
6I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.
7Thou 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
8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!
9There shall no strange god be in thee; Neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.
10I am Jehovah thy God, Who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.
12So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels.
13Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways!
14I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of Jehovah should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever.
16He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee.
What is Psalms 81 about?
Summoning the people to sing aloud and blow the trumpet at the appointed feast, Asaph recalls the ordinance God gave when He brought Israel out of Egypt and heard them in the secret place of thunder. God's own voice sounds the covenant charge, 'there shall no strange god be in thee,' with the promise, 'open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.' But Israel would not hearken, so He gave them up to their own hearts' counsel, even as He grieves, 'O that my people had hearkened unto me!' The festival of praise becomes a call to obedient listening, for God longs to feed His people with the finest of the wheat and honey from the rock if only they will walk in His ways.
Matthew Henry on Psalms 81