Psalms 81:1-16
1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.
3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This 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.
6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.
7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah.a Selah.
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.
13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the LORD should have submittedb themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
16 He should have fed them also with the finestc of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Contents: God chides His people for their ingratitude and pictures their happy state had they but obeyed Him.
Characters: God, Asaph, Joseph, Jacob.
Conclusion: God gives those up to their own heart's lust who are determined to give themselves up to be led by them. Those who will listen to the counsels of His Spirit will find those joys and consolations which always reward the obedient.
Key Word: Abandoned, Psalms 81:12.
Strong Verses: Psalms 81:10; Psalms 81:16.
Striking Facts: Psalms 81:16. The honey out of the rock speaks to us of Christ, the Rock of our Salvation (1 Corinthians 10:4) and the fullness of grace in Him and the blessings of the Gospel. Those who hearken to Christ are filled and satisfied with all that is good.