A Call to Obedience
For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph. 81:title 1Ch 16:5,7; Pss 8; 84 titles
1 Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob. 81:1 Ps 59:16; 95:1–2; 98:4
2 Lift up a song — play the tambourine,
the melodious lyre, and the harp. 81:2 Ps 33:2; 71:22; 92:3
3 Blow the ram’s horn on the day of our feasts 81:3 Lit feast
during the new moon 81:3 Lv 23:24; Nm 10:10; 29:1
and during the full moon.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob. 81:4 1Ch 16:17; Ps 105:10
5 He set it up as a decree for Joseph
when he went throughout 81:5 Or he gained authority over the land of Egypt. 81:5 Ps 78:5; 122:4
I heard an unfamiliar language:
6 "I relieved his shoulder from the burden;
his hands were freed from carrying the basket. 81:6 Is 9:4; 10:27
7 You called out in distress, and I rescued you;
I answered you from the thundercloud. 81:7 Ex 14:24; 20:18–20
I tested you at the Waters of Meribah. 81:7 Ex 17:1–7; Nm 20:2–13Selah
8 Listen, my people, and I will admonish you.
Israel, if you would only listen to me! 81:8 Ps 50:7
9 There must not be a strange god among you;
you must not bow down to a foreign god. 81:9 Ex 20:3–5; 22:20; 34:14
10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up from the land of Egypt. 81:10 Ex 20:2; Dt 5:6
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 81:10 Ps 78:25; 107:9
11 "But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel did not obey me. 81:11 Jr 7:24; 13:10
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own plans. 81:12 Jb 8:4; Jr 11:8
13 If only my people would listen to me
and Israel would follow my ways, 81:13 Dt 5:29; Is 48:18
14 I would quickly subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes." 81:14 Ps 18:47; 47:3; Am 1:8
15 Those who hate the Lord
would cower to him; 81:15 Ps 18:44; 66:3
their doom would last forever. 81:15 Dt 32:35
16 But he would feed Israel 81:16 Lithim with the best wheat.
"I would satisfy you with honey from the rock." 81:16 Nm 18:12; Dt 32:13–14; Ps 147:14