Psalms 81:1-3 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary

Bible Comments

It is very probable that this Psalm formed part of the religious worship in the temple on the feast days. We find several occasions of this sort: such as the feast of trumpets; Leviticus 23:24; Numbers 29:1; and the jubilee trumpet; Leviticus 25:9 : and we know that instruments of music were used in the temple service. But as we also know, that almost all things in the dispensation under the law were shadows and types only of a better dispensation under the gospel, I venture to believe that we cannot derive any one authority for musical instruments in the house of God, from what we behold in those periods before the coming of Christ. And, without doubt, every mind that is truly spiritual must allow that the melody of the soul can need no stringed instruments to awaken real devotion within. These were carnal things before the time of reformation. I would desire to sing with the spirit, and to sing with the understanding also, when I approach the throne of grace, to praise a God in Christ. I would sing loud indeed unto Jesus the Rock of my strength, and desire to bring all the devout chords of my soul to tell my God of his redemption, of his jubilee, and salvation. 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:17-20.

Psalms 81:1-3

1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.