Psaume 81:1

1 Au maître-chantre. Psaume d'Asaph, sur Guitthith.

Psaume 81:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 81:1

Sing aloud unto God our strength
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:

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob;
or Israel, being the God that had made a covenant with them, had chosen them for his peculiar people, and had redeemed them out of the house of bondage, and bestowed peculiar favours upon them; and therefore were under obligation to show forth his praise vocally and audibly, and with strong expressions of joy; and the spiritual Israel of God much more so, who have an interest in the covenant of grace, and share in electing, redeeming, and calling grace, by all which he appears to be their God and Father, in a special sense.

Psaume 81:1 In-Context

1 Au maître-chantre. Psaume d'Asaph, sur Guitthith.
2 Chantez avec allégresse à Dieu, notre force; jetez des cris de réjouissance au Dieu de Jacob!
3 Entonnez le chant; faites résonner le tambourin, la harpe agréable avec la lyre.
4 Sonnez de la trompette à la nouvelle lune, à la pleine lune, au jour de notre fête.
5 Car c'est une loi pour Israël, une ordonnance du Dieu de Jacob.
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.