Asaph
Psalm 81
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.
Scripture (KJV)
1Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7Thou 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.
8Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
16He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Summary
Psalm 81 is a festival psalm that combines a call to worship with a prophetic oracle from God, lamenting Israel’s stubbornness and inviting them back to obedience. Asaph calls Israel to sing aloud, take the timbrel and harp, and blow the trumpet at the new moon and the appointed feast. God recalls how He ordained this statute in Joseph when He brought them out of Egypt, removed the burden from their shoulders, and answered them in the secret place of thunder and at the waters of Meribah. God then speaks directly: "Hear, O my people... open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." But Israel would not hearken, so God gave them up to their own hearts’ lust. The poignant verse 13 expresses God’s longing: "Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!" If they had, God would have subdued their enemies, and they would have been fed with the finest of wheat and honey from the rock.
The major themes are worship, remembrance, obedience, God’s longing, and blessing. Practically, the psalm teaches that God’s commands are invitations to fullness and that disobedience leads to being given over to our own desires. The great lesson is that God longs for His people to listen, that He might fill their mouths and subdue their enemies.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 81
I sing aloud to You, O God our strength; I make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob. You brought us out of Egypt, removed the burden from our shoulders, and answered us in the secret place of thunder. You say, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." Forgive me for the times I would not hearken to Your voice, and You gave me up to my own desires. Oh that I had hearkened to You and walked in Your ways! Subdue my enemies and feed me with the finest of the wheat and honey from the rock. Turn me again to Your obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1What does it mean that God says, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it"?
- 2How does verse 12 ("I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust") warn me?
- 3What does God’s longing in verse 13 reveal about His heart?
- 4Where am I being invited to hearken and walk in God’s ways?
Related Psalms
Psalm 50
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God’s judgment on formal worship without thanksgiving and obedience.
Read morePsalm 78
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A long historical psalm teaching Israel to remember and not rebel.
Read morePsalm 95
“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”
A call to worship and a warning not to harden the heart at Massah.
Read morePsalm 105
“O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”
Psalm 105 is a historical hymn that recounts God’s faithfulness to His covenant from Abraham to the conquest of Canaan.
Read morePsalm 95
“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”
A call to worship and a warning not to harden the heart at Massah.
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