Psalms 81

The Prophet exhorteth the people highly to praise the LORD God, for the manifold mercies and deliverances exhibited to the same: complaining of their disobedience, which tended to their own hurt.

1. For the chief song-master, upon the Gittith, [See Psalm 8.on verse 1.] (a Psalm) of Asaph. [or, for Asaph, as Psalms 80:1.]

2. Sing Cheerfully to God our strength: shout to the God of Jacob: [i.e. to that God that made a Covenant with Jacob and his posterity.]

3. Lift up a Psalm, and give the drum: the pleasant Harp with the Lute.

4. Blow the trumpet, [See the Annot. Levit.23.on verse 24.] in the new Moon, [viz. At that time which God hath instituted to be festival: Numb.10.10. and 28.11,14.] at the appointed time on our Feast-day: [others in the covering, viz. Of the Moon, i.e. when the Moon is obscured. Some understand here feast of the founding, whereof see Levit.23.24. others, understand by the former words the new Moon, and by the latter the three yearly feasts, whereof see Deut.16.16.]

5. For that [viz. The blowing of the Trumpet] is an institution in Israel, [i.e. amongst the people of Israel:] a right of the God of Jacob: [others, for the God of Jacob, viz. That he be rightly worshipped, so as he requires the same of his people. See the institution of feast-days Exod.23.17. Deut.16.16.]

6. He hath set it [The blowing of the trumpet, and the keeping of the Ceremonies and feast days] for a testimony [of his grace towards his people] in Joseph, [among the posterity of Joseph: Whereby all the Israelites in general are understood here, as also above, Psal.80.2.] when he was gone forth against the land of Egypt: [He, God namely, that went out to fight against the Egyptians, setting upon them with all his plagues:] (where) I heard [this is Israel speech, in this sence, namely, giving to understand that in the person of their fathers, (in whose loins they were) they have dwelt or sojourned among a strange and unknown people in Egypt;] a speech I understood not. [Heb. A lip, as Gen.11.1.The Hebrew and Egyptian Languages were so far differing that the one was not able to understand the other; namely, in the beginning, when they came first into Egypt. See Gen.42.23. some take this, as if the Prophet meant here, that Israel did not yet understand the speaking of God unto them, as being not yet used to it: compare Act.7.25.]

7. I, [These are words of the LORD, whom the prophet introduceth speaking here] have withdrawn his shoulder, [Josephs namely, i.e. the Israelites, as verse 6.] from the hurthen: [viz. Of bondage, which the people of Israel was subject unto in Egypt. See Exod.1. and 5. Chap.] his hands are rescued [Heb. Past through, gone through] from the pots. [Heb. From the pots: it seemeth the Prophet hath regard to the digging of the children of Israel for pot-earth, (or clay) out of which they were forced to make bricks and pots: others, through, viz. Such where in men use to carry chalk or lime, or morter: Others, mauneds, baskets.]

8. In the distress thou criedst, [Some understand this of the same condition the former verse spake of; Others of the straight wherein they were at the red Sea, Exod.2.23. and 14.10.15.] and I helped you out: I answered you out (or in) of the hiding place of Thunder: [i.e. out of the thick cloudy pillar, wherein God lying hid as it were, conducted his people Israel, but terrified the Egyptians with thunder, &c. Exod.13.21. and 14.19.20,24,25. See also Psalms 77:18, 19.] I tried thee, [viz. By great thirst, which I made you to suffer at Raphidim] at the waters of Meriba; [thus the waters of Raphidim were called afterwards: See Exod.17.1,2,3,7. Numb.20.13.] Sela! [See the Annot. On Psalm.3. verse 3.]

9. My people (said I,) [These are the words which God addresseth himself withal to his people, in the giving of his Law] hearken, and I will testify among thee [I shall take you for witnesses; or I shall testify and make known unto you, what is my will, and what ye ought to do] Israel, if thou didst hearken to me! [understand hereupon, how happy shouldest thou be? See Exod.15.26. Deut.32.29.]

10. There shall be among thee no out-landish God, and thou shalt bow thee down before no strange God.

11. I am the LORD thy God, which hath led thee up out of the land of Egypt: Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. [i.e. speak, and ask whatsoever thou desireth, and I will give it there in abundance; if so be namely, that thou live according to my will and laws. See the like promise John 15.v.7. and 1 John 3:22.]

12. But my people hath not heard my voice: and Israel would none of me: [i.e. were never so zealously or faithfully affected to me, as it was requisite; which was made evident, by their making of a calf presently after the publishing of my Laws and Commandments among them, rebelling against me, Exod.32.2, &c. Jud.2.2. and 4.1. and 6.1. and 8.27. and 10.6. and 18.30.]

13. Therefore I gave it over the arbitration of their heart. [see Deuteronomy 29:19. Jer.3.17. and 7.24. and 9.14. and 11.8. Acts 14:16.] that they walked in their (own) counsel.

14. O that my people had hearkened to me! That Israel had walked in my ways! [Israel, i.e. the Israelites; therefore the Verb in the Hebrew, is of the plural number.]

15. I should soon have quelled their enemies, [And consequently procured them peace: compare 2 Sam.7.10. and 1 Chron.17.9.] and turned mine hand [i.e. plague, against their adversaries.

16. Those that hate the LORD, should fainedly have subjected themselves to him, [See the Annot. Deut.33.on v.29. See likewise Psalms 66:3.] but their time should have been forever: [viz. My peoples time, that is, their welfare and happiness: the meaning is, they should have had and enjoyed a long blessed life.]

17. And he, [The Lord, namely] would have fed them [his people, verse 14.] with the fat of the wheat: [the flower of it, or the best and chiefest corn; as Numbers 18:12. Deut.32.14. Psalms 147:14.] yea I would have satisfied thee; [this God speaketh again in his own person] with honey out of the stone rocks: [understand here; which should continually be found in abundance in the clefts of the rocks; being that the Bees in the Land of Canaan, used much to harbour in the rocks: See the Annot. Deut.32.13. Hebr. Out of the rock, in the singular. Spiritually, this Rock doth signify Christ, 1 Cor.10.4. and the honey, that sweetness of speech, and those savoury words, which issue from his mouth, being sweetness to the soul, and health to the bones, Psalms 19:11. Prov.16.24. and Cant.4.11.]