Skip to content
Scripture Mapping

Psalms 81

World English Bible

WEB

1For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. By Asaph. Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob! 2Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp. 3Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. 4For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 5He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know. 6“I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket. 7You 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, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me! 9There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god. 10I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me. 12So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels. 13Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. 15The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 81 is a powerful call to worship and a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people, Israel. The psalm begins with a joyful invitation to sing and make music to the Lord, emphasizing the importance of praising Him with instruments and song. The opening verses highlight the significance of gathering together to celebrate the #feast of the #NewMoon, a time of renewal and thanksgiving. This communal worship serves as a reminder of God's past deliverance and His ongoing presence among His people. The psalmist encourages the faithful to lift their voices and rejoice in the Lord, who is their strength and salvation.

As the psalm progresses, God speaks directly to His people, recalling how He delivered them from Egypt and provided for them in the wilderness. He expresses a longing for His people to listen and obey His commands, promising that if they would only heed His voice, He would bless them abundantly. The psalm serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of turning away from God, as He laments that His people have not listened to Him. Ultimately, Psalms 81 calls us to recognize the blessings of obedience and the joy of being in a right relationship with our Creator, urging us to return to Him and experience His goodness. This chapter beautifully encapsulates the themes of worship, obedience, and divine provision, encouraging us to trust in the Lord's faithfulness in our lives.

Study

14 dimensions

Referenced by

  1. Numbers 28:11v3Numbers 28:11 discusses the new moon offerings, which are also celebrated in Psalm 81:3, signifying the renewal and continual acknowledgment of God's provision.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

Your study

Take it with you

This chapter’s study as a Markdown file. The analysis was written for a notebook originally, so the hashtags arrive as hashtags and the passages as links.

Download the analysisDownload it with your notes and highlights