The Book of Psalms
Psalm 81
Psalm LXXXI · Vol. II, pp. 1040–1041
1 An exhortation to a solemn praising of God. 4 God challengeth that duty by reason of his benefits. 8 God, exhorting to obedience, complaineth of their disobedience, which proveth their own hurt.
To the chief musician upon aGittith, A psalm of Asaph.1
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
4 For gthis was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.2
g Nu.10.10. Ex.12.18,19. Le.23.24,26,34.
2 It would appear from verses 3 and 4 that this psalm was intended for the public service of the temple or sanctuary, on the great annual festivals in the seventh month. The month was ushered in by a solemn sabbath—'a memorial of blowing of trumpets,' Le. 23. 24. On the tenth of the same month was the feast of atonement; on the fifteenth the feast of tabernacles, or of ingathering, which lasted seven days.—P.
5 This he ordained in Joseph3 for a testimony, when he went out through4 the land of Egypt: where hI heard a language that I understood not.
7 Thouj calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the ksecret place of thunder: lI proved thee at the waters of Meribah.7 Selah.8
8 Hear, nO my people, and I will testify unto thee; O Israel, oif thou wilt hearken unto me;
n Ps.50.7. De.4.26; 31.28. Is.55.3,6,7.
o Ex.15.26. ver.13.
9 Therep shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
p Ex.20.3. 1 Co.8.4,5. De.4.19,25; 6.13,14. Ho.14.8. 1 Jn.5.21.
10 Iq am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: ropen thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 Buts my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.9
s De.32.15,18. Ho.11.2. Pr.1.25,30. He.10.29. Zec.7.11; 11.8.
9 Laid believing hold upon none of mine attributes.—C.
13 Ohu that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
u De.5.29; 32.29. Is.48.18. Mat.23.37. Lu.19.41,42.
15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves2 unto him: xbut their time3 should have endured for ever.
16 He yshould have fed them also with the finest of the wheat:4 and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
y Is.1.19. De.32.13,14. Ps.147.14. 1 Sa.14.25,26. Job 29.6.
4 Heb. with the fat of wheat.
Notes
Ver. 1. God is called the God of Jacob, in reference to the following circumstances in Jacob's history:— (1) He was a specimen, representative, or type of the electing grace of God, Ro. 9. 11. (2) He learned, by grace, to prize the birthright. (3) He was willing to purchase it with his food, the representative of his life. (4) He was forced into exile, and became a stranger, a pilgrim. (5) He was tried with hard measures by his friends. (6) He was a faithful servant. (7) He was an affectionate husband and parent. (8) He was a bold wrestler in prayer—utterly refusing to resign without a blessing. (9) He was the father of a numerous progeny. (10) He was, in the fulfilment of prophecy, and the designs of Providence, led down into Egypt. (11) He was brought up from it after death—an emblem of deliverance by the resurrection. (12) He rested in the land of promise. C.
Ver. 5. Understood not. Messiah, as prophet, is the speaker, and so speaks, as when he shall say to the wicked, 'I never knew you.' C.
Ver. 10. Ask what you need; make any request consonant with my holy will, and the granting of which will promote your own welfare, and I will liberally respond to every wish, and bestow to the utmost extent of your desire. 'There is not a want of our nature—of our bodies or our souls; a want pertaining to this life or the life to come—to ourselves, to our families, to our friends, to the church, or to our country—which God is not able to meet; and there is not a real necessity in any of these respects which he is not willing to meet.' P.
Reflections.—God's saving relations are a delightful foundation of our warmest praise. Deliverances from God, as well as his authoritative command, oblige us to a punctual observance of his ordinances of worship. And nothing can do it more effectually than our eternal redemption through Christ. How ready is God to help and to save those who call upon him in trouble! And all our obedience is delightfully founded. on his gospel grant of himself to us as our God. His service must then be our highest interest as well as duty. Past obligations are sufficient to engage our hearts, even though we had no future promises in view. And when God grants himself and his fulness, our desires or prayers for enjoyment can never be too much enlarged. They only who have him for their portion have all that heart can wish. But how terrible is the punishment of a wilful refusal of his gracious offers! What loss of victory over enemies, of perpetuated enjoyments, and of delightful provision! Alas! what enemies are sinners to their own souls! And they who resist God's Word and Spirit have only their own wilfulness to blame when their destruction comes. Their perishing is not through want of compassion in God, but through the hardness and impenitence of their own hearts.