Psalms

Chapter 81

Sing for Joy to God Our Strength

This psalm begins as a joyful summons to celebrate Israel's God with song, instruments, and the trumpet at the appointed feast. The celebration is rooted in the Lord's own ordinance and in his past redemption of Joseph from Egypt, where he removed burdens, answered distress, and tested his people at the waters of Meribah. The psalm then shifts into God's direct speech, warning Israel against strange gods and reminding them that he alone brought them out of Egypt and was ready to satisfy them. But the mood turns tragic as God laments that his people would not listen, so he gave them over to stubbornness even though he still longs to subdue their enemies and feed them with the finest wheat and honey from the rock.

Psalm 81 is a festival psalm that combines liturgical joy with prophetic warning. It presents worship and obedience as inseparable, showing that the God who redeemed and provided for Israel still desires their good, yet their refusal to listen leaves blessing unrealized.

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Psalms 81

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vv. 1-16

Sing for Joy to God Our Strength

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F¹or the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. ²Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, ³Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, ⁴For this is a statute for Israel, ⁵He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph

⁶“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; ⁷You called out in distress, and I rescued you; ⁸Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: ⁹There must be no strange god among you, ¹⁰I am the LORD your God,

¹¹But My people would not listen to Me, ¹²So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts ¹³If only My people would listen to Me, ¹⁴how soon I would subdue their enemies ¹⁵Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, ¹⁶But I would feed you the finest wheat;

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01vv. 1-16Sing for Joy to God Our StrengthThe psalm opens with a call to joyful music before the God of Jacob, summoning Israel to keep the feast with trumpet, song, and gladness because this is God's own appointed statute. It then recalls the Lord's redemptive action in Egypt, where he removed burdens, answered distress, and tested his people. From there the psalm becomes divine speech: God warns his people to reject false gods and remember that he alone brought them up from Egypt and stands ready to fill them with good. The closing verses lament Israel's refusal to listen, describe the judgment of being given over to stubborn hearts, and express God's continuing desire to defeat their enemies and satisfy his people abundantly.