Psalms 81:1-11

1 To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

2 Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute.

3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.

4 For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob.

5 This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand.

6 "I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the baskets.

7 You 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, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me!

9 There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god.

10 I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 "But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me.

Psalms 81:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A [Psalm] of Asaph. Of "gittith," See Gill on "Ps 8:1." The Targum renders it, "upon the harp which came from Gath;" and so Jarchi says it was a musical instrument that came from Gath. The Septuagint, and the versions which follow that, render it, "for the winepresses." This psalm, according to Kimchi, is said concerning the going out of the children of Israel from Egypt; and was composed in order to be sung at their new moons and solemn feasts, which were typical of Gospel things in Gospel times; see Colossians 2:16 and so the Syriac version, "a psalm of Asaph, when David by him prepared himself for the solemnities."

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew Al Gittith