Psalms 81 A Call to Obedience

Gittith--(see on 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

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

3

the new moon — or the month. the time appointed — (Compare Pr 7:20).

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

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

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

(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.

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).

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.