Psalms 81
FBMeyerPsalms 81:1-7
Sing unto God, the Deliverer Psalms 81:1-7 It is supposed that this psalm was composed for use at the great Hebrew festivals and especially at the Passover, which is referred to in Psalms 81:5-7; Psalms 81:10. See also 2 Chronicles 30:21. Let us remember to celebrate the redemption of the Cross, where our Paschal Lamb was sacrificed. We must celebrate, here and hereafter, the love that rescued us from the burden and the basket, at Sinai and Meribah. Baskets have been found in the sepulchral vaults at Thebes, and were doubtless used for carrying the clay or the manufactured bricks. They are symbols of the drudgery and slavery of sin, when we served a hard taskmaster, whose wages is death. If we are in trouble, let us quote Psalms 81:7, call on God, and reckon on His delivering helpfulness. He will answer from “ his thunder-covert.” He comes out of His secret place. Especially when the thunder of a broken law is in our ears, let us hasten to the Redeemer, who has fulfilled the law in our stead. Let us maintain by faith our standing in Him; then we shall be as they who look down from the high mountains on the thunder-storm at our feet.
My people would not hearken Probably written by Asaph himself in the days of David. This Psalm is a call to the people to keep the Passover, the annual feast commemorating the deliverance of Egypt.
Division A call to celebrate the Passover (Psalms 81:1-3): the basis on which the Passover rests (Psalms 81:4-7); an appeal to Israel to come back from false gods to their allegiance (Psalms 81:8-12); with a promise of the blessings which may yet accrue to them (Psalms 81:13-16).
Psalms 81:1. Sing aloud unto God! We can sing aloud unto Him when we realize the great blessings which He is prepared to confer on us, as the remaining verses of this Psalm disclose. Think much of God’s resources, all of which are yours in Christ, and then praise Him.
Psalms 81:3. The new moon or month may probably mean the first and chief month of the year, the Passover month, the month of Abib (Exodus 12:1-2; Deuteronomy 16:1). The time appointed is “the set time.” Hengstenberg considers that the whole Psalm refers to the commemoration of the Passover, “our solemn feast day.”
Psalms 81:5. This He ordained in Joseph Joseph is mentioned here as representing Israel, because his position in Egypt constituted him the leader among his people. We should never forget our deliverance from a more intolerable servitude, but commemorate it–specially in the Lord’s Supper. The change to the first pronoun indicates how closely the Divine Spirit was behind the Psalmist, so that naturally, with no break in the continuity of thought, he passes from one mode of address to another.
Psalms 81:6. Removed his shoulder from the burden “His hands were set free from the burden baskets.” Such baskets were found in the sepulchral vaults of Thebes and were used in carrying the clay and manufactured bricks. Our Saviour has done more than this, relieving us from care and burden-bearing (Matthew 11:28; Psalms 55:22), admitting us into glorious liberty.
Psalms 81:7. In the secret place of thunder God was supposed specially to reside in the storm cloud. Thence He looked on the hosts of Pharaoh and spoke from the brow of Sinai. We are reminded of that triplet of Lowell’s:–
Behind the dim unknown Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above his own.
Psalms 81:8-9. Hear, O My people! What a peculiar claim God has on the whole-hearted allegiance and devotion of his own! Let us each time that we are tempted to desert Him, recall the cost at which He has redeemed us.
Psalms 81:10. Open thy mouth wide! God wants our emptiness. He calls on us to open our mouth, even as the gaping beak of the young fledgling. There is nothing which we really need that He is unable or unwilling to supply. Let us ask Him to fill us with the Holy Ghost and reckon that He does keep his word (Ephesians 5:18).
Psalms 81:12. They walked in their own counsels “With the froward Thou wilt show thyself froward” (2 Samuel 22:27; Psalms 18:26; see also Romans 1:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
Psalms 81:13. Oh that My people had hearkened! Obedience is the condition of full deliverance. Note the stress laid upon “hearing” and “hearkening” (Psalms 81:8; Psalms 81:11; Psalms 81:13).
Psalms 81:14-15 : The haters of the Lord Our enemies and God’s haters are identical. What encouragement is here! Notice also the permanence of our standing, “for ever.”
Psalms 81:16. With the finest of the wheat Strength and sweetness, necessaries and luxuries, complete satisfaction!
Psalms 81:8-16
“ If Thou Wouldest Hearken unto Me” Psalms 81:8-16 God wants our emptiness, which seems to Him like the gaping beak of the young fledgling, Psalms 81:10. Give me room! is his incessant appeal. It must be the wonder of eternity, and it will certainly be our regret when we come to review our life, that we have asked so little. Give me room! cries the river, as it comes with a rush to the plains. Give me room! cries the wind, as it searches into the narrow courts and alleys of the slums. Give me room! says the Spirit of God, as He breathes around the house of our heart, seeking by any tiny crack to enter. In the closing Psalms 81:13-16, we have an enumeration of all the blessings which would be ours, if only we would open our mouths wide. God would constitute Himself as our champion in subduing our enemies-the temptations from without and the inward warrings of selfishness and passion. He would give us unbroken and enduring blessedness. He would allow us to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, which are meat and drink indeed. He would surely satisfy us with the sweet honey of His love. Let us begin to claim these benefits!
My people would not hearken Probably written by Asaph himself in the days of David. This Psalm is a call to the people to keep the Passover, the annual feast commemorating the deliverance of Egypt.
Division A call to celebrate the Passover (Psalms 81:1-3): the basis on which the Passover rests (Psalms 81:4-7); an appeal to Israel to come back from false gods to their allegiance (Psalms 81:8-12); with a promise of the blessings which may yet accrue to them (Psalms 81:13-16).
Psalms 81:1. Sing aloud unto God! We can sing aloud unto Him when we realize the great blessings which He is prepared to confer on us, as the remaining verses of this Psalm disclose. Think much of God’s resources, all of which are yours in Christ, and then praise Him.
Psalms 81:3. The new moon or month may probably mean the first and chief month of the year, the Passover month, the month of Abib (Exodus 12:1-2; Deuteronomy 16:1). The time appointed is “the set time.” Hengstenberg considers that the whole Psalm refers to the commemoration of the Passover, “our solemn feast day.”
Psalms 81:5. This He ordained in Joseph Joseph is mentioned here as representing Israel, because his position in Egypt constituted him the leader among his people. We should never forget our deliverance from a more intolerable servitude, but commemorate it–specially in the Lord’s Supper. The change to the first pronoun indicates how closely the Divine Spirit was behind the Psalmist, so that naturally, with no break in the continuity of thought, he passes from one mode of address to another.
Psalms 81:6. Removed his shoulder from the burden “His hands were set free from the burden baskets.” Such baskets were found in the sepulchral vaults of Thebes and were used in carrying the clay and manufactured bricks. Our Saviour has done more than this, relieving us from care and burden-bearing (Matthew 11:28; Psalms 55:22), admitting us into glorious liberty.
Psalms 81:7. In the secret place of thunder God was supposed specially to reside in the storm cloud. Thence He looked on the hosts of Pharaoh and spoke from the brow of Sinai. We are reminded of that triplet of Lowell’s:–
Behind the dim unknown Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above his own.
Psalms 81:8-9. Hear, O My people! What a peculiar claim God has on the whole-hearted allegiance and devotion of his own! Let us each time that we are tempted to desert Him, recall the cost at which He has redeemed us.
Psalms 81:10. Open thy mouth wide! God wants our emptiness. He calls on us to open our mouth, even as the gaping beak of the young fledgling. There is nothing which we really need that He is unable or unwilling to supply. Let us ask Him to fill us with the Holy Ghost and reckon that He does keep his word (Ephesians 5:18).
Psalms 81:12. They walked in their own counsels “With the froward Thou wilt show thyself froward” (2 Samuel 22:27; Psalms 18:26; see also Romans 1:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
Psalms 81:13. Oh that My people had hearkened! Obedience is the condition of full deliverance. Note the stress laid upon “hearing” and “hearkening” (Psalms 81:8; Psalms 81:11; Psalms 81:13).
Psalms 81:14-15 : The haters of the Lord Our enemies and God’s haters are identical. What encouragement is here! Notice also the permanence of our standing, “for ever.”
Psalms 81:16. With the finest of the wheat Strength and sweetness, necessaries and luxuries, complete satisfaction!