Psalms 81:7

7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

Psalms 81:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 81:7

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee
That is, when Israel were in trouble in Egypt, as the Targum adds, and they cried unto the Lord in their distress, he heard them, and answered them, and sent them a deliverer, and brought them out of all their troubles, ( Exodus 3:7-10 ) .

I answered thee in the secret place of thunder;
by bringing the plague of thunder and lightnings upon the Egyptians, when the Israelites were hidden from them; a sense given by some, as Kimchi observes: or rather this was done when the Lord looked out of the pillar of cloud at the Red sea upon the Egyptian host, and troubled them; at which time the voice of his thunder was heard in heaven, ( Psalms 77:16-18 ) . Some think this has reference to the thunder at the giving of the law on Mount Sinai; but the sense before given is best:

I proved thee at the waters of Meribah;
by withholding water from them to try them, and see whether they would behave patiently, and put their trust and confidence in the Lord, or not; see ( Exodus 17:4-7 ) .

Selah. (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).

Psalms 81:7 In-Context

5 He ordained it in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went forth over the land of Egypt, [where] I heard a language that I knew not.

6 I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

8 Hear, my people, and I will testify unto thee; O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!

9 There shall no strange ·god be in thee, neither shalt thou worship any foreign ·god.