---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Psalms 81"
description: "PSALM 81   :-. Gittith—(See on  :-, title). A festal Psalm, probably for the passover (compare
Matthew 26:30), in which, after an
exhortation to praise Go"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/psalms/81"
---

PSALM 81

. *Gittith*—(See on , title). A festal Psalm, probably for the passover (compare
[Matthew 26:30](../../../kjv/matthew/26/30)), in which, after an
exhortation to praise God, He is introduced, reminding Israel of
their obligations, chiding their neglect, and depicting the happy
results of obedience.

**1. our strength**— ().

**2.** unites the most joyful kinds
of music, vocal and instrumental.

**3. the new moon**—or the month.
**the time appointed**—(Compare
[Proverbs 7:20](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/20)).

**5. a testimony**—The feasts,
especially the passover, attested God's relation to His people.
**Joseph**—for *Israel*
([Psalms 80:1](../../../kjv/psalms/80/1)).
**went out through**—or,
"over," that is, Israel in the exodus.
**I heard**—change of
person. The writer speaks for the nation.
**language**—literally,
"lip" ([Psalms 14:1](../../../kjv/psalms/14/1)). An
aggravation or element of their distress that their oppressors were
foreigners ([Deuteronomy 28:49](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/49)).

**6.** God's language alludes to the
burdensome slavery of the Israelites.

**7. secret place**—the cloud from
which He troubled the Egyptians ().
**proved thee**— ([Psalms 7:10](../../../kjv/psalms/7/10);
[Psalms 17:3](../../../kjv/psalms/17/3)) —tested their faith
by the miracle.

**8.** (Compare ). The reproof follows to .
**if thou wilt hearken**—He
then propounds the terms of His covenant: they should worship Him
alone, who ([Psalms 81:10](../../../kjv/psalms/81/10)) had
delivered them, and would still confer all needed blessings.

**11, 12.** They failed, and He gave
them up to their own desires and hardness of heart ([Deuteronomy 29:18](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/18);
[Proverbs 1:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/1/30); [Romans 11:25](../../../kjv/romans/11/25)).

**13-16.** Obedience would have
secured all promised blessings and the subjection of foes. In this
passage, "should have," "would have," &c.,
are better, "should" and "would" expressing God's
intention at the time, that is, when they left Egypt.

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