Psalms 81
McGeePsalms 81THEME: A song of deliveranceThis psalm, like so many of the others, is linked to the one that preceded it. In other words, we have a continuous story. The prayer in the preceding psalm was not a prayer for Christians; it is for the time of Jacob’s trouble at the end of the age. The great prayer for us today is, “…Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev_22:20). And in the meantime we’re to ask Him to help us get out His Word. It is a song of deliverance. It begins on a high note. It is a soprano solo. It is inscribed “To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.”
Psalms 81:1
I think the key to this passage is in the blowing of the trumpet at the new moon. This is all very proper because the new moon appears before the Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His wings. He is coming to deliver them. It is a beautiful picture of the Feast of Tabernacles. Israel had four feasts that came at the beginning of the year: the Passover, the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of First Fruits, and then the Feast of Tabernacles. This psalm sounds like the Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Trumpets. “For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.” It was a great day. And its fulfillment is still in the future.
Psalms 81:8
The Lord reminds them of the past.
Psalms 81:10
This is a promise to Israel, and we should leave it that way, but there is a spiritual lesson for us in this verse. God did not lead me out of Egypt; but He did save me out of sin, which is the “Egypt” of this world. Now God says, “Open wide your mouth, McGee, and I will fill it with spiritual blessings.” And He has done just that. God has been good to me.
Psalms 81:11
In other words, “Israel would have none of me.” They still have not turned to God. There is not much difference between the Israel side and the Arab side as far as their relationship to God goes, and there is not much difference between that land and the United States. In fact, I think the United States is in the worst spiritual condition, yet we are telling the world how things ought to be done. Because of our own failure I believe our nation should be in sackcloth and ashes. As a people, as individuals, we need to turn to God.