Psalms — Chapter 81
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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.
1Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast-day.
4For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, [Where] I heard a language that I knew not.
6I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.
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 wouldest hearken unto me!
9There shall no strange god be in thee; Neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.
10I am Jehovah thy God, Who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.
12So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels.
13Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways!
14I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of Jehovah should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever.
16He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee. Psalm 82 A Psalm of Asaph.
1For the music director, according to the gittith style; by Asaph. Shout for joy to God, our source of strength! Shout out to the God of Jacob!
2Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant-sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument.
3Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.
4For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.
5He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize.
6It said: “I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket.
7In your distress you called out and I rescued you. I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)
8I said, ‘Listen, my people! I will warn you. O Israel, if only you would obey me!
9There must be no other god among you. You must not worship a foreign god.
10I am the Lord, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.’
11But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.
12I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.
13If only my people would obey me! If only Israel would keep my commands!
14Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries.”
15(May those who hate the Lord cower in fear before him. May they be permanently humiliated.)
16“I would feed Israel the best wheat, and would satisfy your appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs.”
1Sing aloud to God, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob!
2Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp.
3Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day.
4For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know.
6“I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket.
7You 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, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me!
9There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god.
10I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
12So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels.
13Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
14I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.
15The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.
16But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”
Summary
A festival psalm — God calls for joyful praise, then speaks directly, recalling the Exodus deliverance and lamenting Israel's refusal to listen: 'Oh that my people had hearkened unto me!'
Authorship & Background
- Call to Joyful Worship (vv.1-5a)
- God Speaks: His Past Deliverance (vv.5b-7)
- God's Demand: No Other Gods (vv.8-10)
- Israel's Refusal and God's Judgment (vv.11-12)
- God's Lament: "Oh That They Had Listened" (vv.13-16)
Map & Geography
- Egypt (v.5, v.10): Land to the southwest; place of Israel's bondage and exodus.
Reflection
- 1. "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it" (v.10). God's invitation: don't limit your requests to what seems reasonable. Ask largely. The God of the Exodus can exceed your widest expectations. Small asking dishonors a great God.
- 2. Being given over to your own desires is the worst judgment (v.12). Don't romanticize "getting what I want." Sometimes the most severe discipline is God saying "Fine — have it your way." Your own counsel, divorced from God's, leads to ruin.
- 3. God grieves over lost potential (v.13). "Oh that they had listened!" God is not indifferent to our disobedience — He grieves. He sees what could have been. Our refusal doesn't just hurt us — it grieves Him.
- 4. Obedience unlocks God's best provision (vv.14-16). What did Israel miss? Subdued enemies, finest wheat, honey from rock. Disobedience doesn't just invite punishment — it forfeits blessing that was ready and waiting.