Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · Psalms Kabanata 81

Ps 81:1-16.

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.