Psalm Eighty One

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.

Gittith. See also the titles to Psalms 8 and 84. The name “Gittith” refers to the Philistine city of Gath. Its usage here could refer to some kind of musical instrument from that city.

Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Psalm 81:2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Psalm 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

Psalm 81:4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

Psalm 81:5 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.

language that I understood not. This probably does not refer specifically to the Egyptian language as such, but rather to its use in their idolatrous religious ceremonies.

Psalm 81:6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

Psalm 81:7 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. Selah

Psalm 81:8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

Psalm 81:9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

Psalm 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

Psalm 81:12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Psalm 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Psalm 81:14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

Psalm 81:15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

Psalm 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

honey out of the rock. Honey deposited in the rocks, the most barren aspect of the wilderness, was a metaphor for the abundance God would have provided for His people, if they had obeyed Him (Deuteronomy 32:13).