Psalms 81:16

Verse Psalms 81:16. With the finest of the wheat] מחלב חטה mecheleb chittah; literally, with the fat of wheat, as in the margin.

Honey out of the rock] And he fed thaim of the grese of whete: And of the hony stane he thaim filled. Old Psalter. Thus paraphrased: "He fed thaim with the body of Criste and gastely understandyng; and of hony that ran of the stane, that is, of the wisedome that is swete to the hert." Several of the fathers understand this place of Christ.

ANALYSIS OF THE EIGHTY-FIRST PSALM

The contents of this Psalm are the following: -

I. The psalmist exhorts them to celebrate God's name in their festivals, Psalms 81:1.

II. The reasons why they should do this: God's benefits conferred on Israel, Psalms 81:5.

III. Israel's ingratitude, and its consequences, Psalms 81:11.

IV. God's love and call to amendment, with the reasons for obedience, Psalms 81:13.

I. He exhorts them to rejoice: but this must be, 1. In God, Psalms 81:1. 2. At his festivals, Psalms 81:2.

II. The reasons. 1. It was God's command, Psalms 81:4. 2. It was an ancient ordinance, Psalms 81:5. 3. Their deliverance from base servitude, Psalms 81:6. 4. When in deep affliction, Psalms 81:7. 5. In a miraculous manner, Psalms 81:7. 6. His mercy shown at the waters of Meribah, Psalms 81:7. 7. His giving them his law, Psalms 81:8.

He then inculcates obedience, for which he gives three reasons: 1. "I am the Lord thy God," Psalms 81:10. 2. Who redeemed thee from bondage, Psalms 81:10. 3. He will make thee truly happy: "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it," Psalms 81:10.

III. Israel's ingratitude, and its consequences. 1. God gave them up; left them to themselves, Psalms 81:12. 2. They walked in their own counsels, Psalms 81:12. And came to ruin.

IV. God's love and call, c.

He calls them to repentance, Psalms 81:13. The fruits of which would be three great benefits. 1. The subjugation of their enemies, Psalms 81:14. 2. A long uninterrupted prosperity. 3. An abundance of all temporal and spiritual blessings, Psalms 81:15.

Under the emblems of the finest wheat, and the purest honey from the hives of bees in the rocks, where they abounded in Judea, he shows them that his followers should have so much of earthly and spiritual blessings, that they should be satisfied and say, It is enough. But, alas! Israel would not be obedient and, therefore, Israel is under the curse.