Psalms 81:2

“Take a psalm, etc.] Or “lift one up” f1169; hold up the book, and read and sing it; or rather, lift up the voice in singing a psalm: and bring hither the timbrel; or “give one” f1170, put the hand to one: the pleasant harp with the psaltery; make use of all these musical instruments in singing, and so make an agreeable melody: these were used in the times of the Old Testament, and were typical of the spiritual joy and melody in the heart, expressed by vocal singing, under the New Testament; (see <660508>Revelation 5:8 14:2,3 15:2).”

“Take a psalm - literally, “Lift up a psalm; perhaps, as we should say, “Raise the tune.” Or, it may mean, Take an ode, a hymn, a psalm, composed for the occasion, and accompany it with the instruments of music which are specified. And bring hither the timbrel - For the purpose of praise. On the meaning of this word rendered “timbrel” - תף tôph - see the notes at Isaiah 5:12. The pleasant harp - On the word here rendered “harp” - כנור kinnôr - see also the notes at Isaiah 5:12. The word translated “pleasant” - נעים nâ‛ı̂ym - means properly pleasant, agreeable, sweet, Psalms 133:1; Psalms 147:1. It is connected here with the word harp, as meaning that that instrument was distinguished…”

“81:2 An Israelite tambourine was a hand drum—a round frame covered with a skin, used as a percussion instrument during festivities, often to accompany dancing (68:25; 149:3; 150:4). • The sweet lyre and the harp, both stringed instruments, are the instruments most frequently mentioned in the psalms (e.g., 33:2; 57:8; 71:22; 150:3).”

“Psa 92:3, Psa 95:1, Psa 95:2, Psa 149:1-3; Mar 14:26; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; Jam 5:13 Psalms 81:3”