Psalms 81 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
PSALM 81
Psa 81:1-16. Gittith--(See on Psa 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--(Psa 38:7).
2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
2. unites the most joyful kinds of music, vocal and instrumental.
3Blow 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).
4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5This 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 (Psa 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" (Psa 14:1). An aggravation or element of their distress that their oppressors were foreigners (De 28:49).
6I 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.
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.
7. secret place--the cloud from which He troubled the Egyptians (Ex 14:24).
proved thee--(Psa 7:10; 17:3)--tested their faith by the miracle.
8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
8. (Compare Psa 50:7). The reproof follows to Psa 81:12.
if thou wilt hearken--He then propounds the terms of His covenant: they should worship Him alone, who (Psa 81:10) had delivered them, and would still confer all needed blessings.
9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But 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).
12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
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).
13Oh 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.
14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
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.
15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
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.
16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
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.