Psalms 81:1-16 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

LXXXI. This Ps. is probably composite.

A. Psalms 81:1-4. A Festal Hymn, specially adapted for the old New Year's Day or Feast of Trumpets (p. 104), which was held on the new moon of Tishri, the seventh month, and for the Feast of Tabernacles (pp. 103f.) at the full moon of the same month. The old New Year in the autumn, when the cycle of agricultural work was complete, is to be distinguished from the Babylonian New Year in the spring month of Nisan (see p, 118, Leviticus 23:24 ff. and Numbers 29). Possibly Psalms 81 A is a mere fragment.

B is different in tone and subject. It relates (Psalms 81:5-10) God's care for His people in Egypt and the wilderness, (Psalms 81:11-16) Israel's disobedience. The triumph through God's favour, if Israel would do as He commanded.

Psalms 81:5. The testimony, i.e. God's witness for the effect of disobedience and obedience, relates to the verses which follow, but probably the text of Psalms 81:5 has suffered from the union of Psalms 81 B with Psalms 81 A. Read with LXX, He heard a language that he knew not.

Psalms 81:7. I proved thee: the reference is to some lost tradition.

Related Commentaries of Psalms 81:1

Psalms 81:1-16

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.

4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

5 This 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.

6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah.a Selah.

8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

15 The haters of the LORD should have submittedb themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

16 He should have fed them also with the finestc of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.