Psalms Chapter 81

“Sing aloud unto God our strength, etc.] The strength of Israel, who, by strength of hand, and a mighty arm, brought Israel out of Egypt, protected and upheld them in the wilderness, and brought them to, and settled and established them in the land of Canaan; and who is the strength of every true Israelite, from whom they have both their natural and spiritual strength; so that they can exercise grace, perform duty, bear afflictions, withstand temptations, fight with and conquer enemies, and hold on and out unto the end; and therefore have reason to sing the praises of God with great fervour, zeal, and affection:…”

“Before the great Judge, the judges of the earth are rebuked, exhorted, and threatened. (Psa 82:1-8) congregation--(Compare Exo 12:3; Exo 16:1). of the mighty--that is, of God, of His appointment. the gods--or, "judges" (Exo 21:6; Exo 22:9), God's representatives.”

“Sing aloud unto God our strength - The strength and support of the nation; he from whom the nation has derived all its power. The word rendered sing aloud means to rejoice; and then, to make or cause to rejoice. It would be appropriate to a high festal occasion, where music constituted an important part of the public service. And it would be a proper word to employ in reference to any of the great feasts of the Hebrews. Make a joyful noise - A noise indicating joy, as distinguished from a noise of mourning or lamentation. Unto the God of Jacob - Not here particularly the God of the patriarch himself, but of the…”

“Joseph - Among the people of Israel. Testimony - For a witness of that glorious deliverance. He - God. Went - As a captain at the head of his people. Egypt - To execute his judgments upon that land. I - My progenitors, for all the successive generations of Israel make one body, and are sometimes spoken of as one person. A language - The Egyptian language, which at first was unknown to the Israelites, Gen 42:13, and probably continued so for some considerable time, because they were much separated both in place and conversation from the Egyptians. Psalms 81:6”

“Ps 81 This warning message invites Israel to worship only the Lord and to enjoy the fullness of his blessing. 81:1-3 As a prelude to the message of warning, the psalmist invites Israel to contemplate their God in song and dance.”

“A Psalm: Some suppose this Psalm to have been composed to be sung at the feast of Trumpets, before the time of David; and others think it was written at the removal of the ark to Mount Zion; but the most probable opinion is, that it was sung at the dedication of the second temple. of Asaph: or, for Asaph Sing: Psa 67:4; Jer 31:7 our strength: Psa 18:1, Psa 18:2, Psa 28:7, Psa 52:7; Phi 4:13 make: Psa 33:1-3, Psa 46:1-7, Psa 66:1, Psa 100:1, Psa 100:2 the God: Psa 46:11; Gen 50:17; Mat 22:32 Psalms 81:2”

“The summons in Psa 81:2 is addressed to the whole congregation, inasmuch as הריעוּ is not intended of the clanging of the trumpets, but as in Ezr 3:11, and frequently. The summons in Psa 81:3 is addressed to the Levites, the appointed singers and musicians in connection with the divine services, Ch2 5:12, and frequently. The summons in Psa 81:4 is addressed to the priests, to whom was committed not only the blowing of the two (later on a hundred and twenty, vid., Ch2 5:12) silver trumpets, but who appear also in Jos 6:4 and elsewhere (cf. Psa 47:6 with Ch2 20:28) as the blowers of the shophar. The Talmud observes…”