Psalms 81 · Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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 ).
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 ( 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 ).
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-- ( Psa 7:10 ; 17:3 )--tested their faith by the miracle.
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.
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.