Psalm 81

Psalm 81 is a call for the people of Israel to worship God with joy and gratitude. It recounts how God delivered them from Egypt and reminds them of His care and faithfulness. The psalm also contains a warning about the consequences of disobedience and urges Israel to listen to God’s voice. It reflects both celebration and admonition, encouraging heartfelt worship and obedience to God’s covenant.

Psalm 81:1-10 (NKJV)
1 Sing aloud to God our strength;
Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.
2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute.
3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob.
5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony,
When He went throughout the land of Egypt,
Where I heard a language I did not understand.
6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden;
His hands were freed from the baskets.
7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you!
O Israel, if you will listen to Me!
9 There shall be no foreign god among you;
Nor shall you worship any foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God,
Who brought you out of the land of Egypt;
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

This section opens with a joyful call to worship, urging Israel to praise God with music and song, especially during their sacred festivals like the New Moon. It reminds them of God’s deliverance from Egypt, emphasizing that He freed them from slavery. God tested their faith at Meribah and provided for them during trials. The psalm calls the people to listen to God’s commands, avoid idolatry, and rely fully on Him for provision, as He is their Redeemer who promises to meet their needs.

Psalm 81:11-16 (NKJV)
11 “But My people would not heed My voice,
And Israel would have none of Me.
12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart,
To walk in their own counsels.
13 “Oh, that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies,
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the Lord would pretend submission to Him,
But their fate would endure forever.
16 He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat;
And with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you.”

This section expresses God’s sorrow over Israel’s disobedience. Despite His guidance and provision, the people chose to follow their own stubborn ways. God allowed them to experience the consequences of their decisions. However, God’s heart still yearns for their repentance and obedience. If they would walk in His ways, He promises to subdue their enemies and bless them with abundance, symbolized by wheat and honey. This passage emphasizes both the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of obedience, urging the people to return to God’s ways.