Psalm Chapter 81 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
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. 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.
More Psalms Chapter 81 (Old Testament, King James Bible)
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 submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.
16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 81:10
Verse: אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהֶיךָ, הַמַּפְתִּיךָ
Transliteration: Anokhi Elohekha, ha-mafteekha
English: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it.”
Focus Word: פָּתַח (Patach)
Root: פ-ת-ח (Pe-Tav-Chet)
Meaning: “To open,” “to loosen,” “to release.”
Deeper Insight: Patach conveys receptivity and provision, showing God as the source of fulfillment when His people respond.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 81:10
Verse: אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהֶיךָ, הַמַּפְתִּיךָ
Transliteration: Anokhi Elohekha, ha-mafteekha
English: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it.”
Focus Word: פָּתַח (Patach)
- Root: פ-ת-ח (Pe-Tav-Chet)
- Meaning: “To open,” “to loosen,” “to release.”
- Deeper Insight: Patach conveys receptivity and provision, showing God as the source of fulfillment when His people respond.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | The Psalm exhorts obedience and reminds the faithful of blessings tied to fidelity. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | God’s voice calls for repentance, promising deliverance to those who heed Him. |
| George Buchanan (St Andrews / Paris, 1506–1582) | Commentaries on the Psalms | This Psalm portrays communal worship as a safeguard against forgetfulness of God’s law. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751) | Family Expositor | Obedience and remembrance of God’s works are inseparable in the believer’s life. |
| John Brown (Edinburgh, 1722–1787) | Self-Interpreting Bible | Musical celebration and teaching reinforce the covenantal relationship with God. |
| John Brown (University of Edinburgh, 1722–1787, The Self-Interpreting Bible) | Brown sees this psalm as a call to rejoice in God’s deliverance and to follow His commands faithfully. |
| Charles Hodge (Princeton University, 1797–1878, Commentary on the Psalms) | What does he think? Hodge emphasizes that the psalm celebrates God’s guidance and warns against disobedience. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751, Family Expositor) | Doddridge interprets this psalm as encouraging worship and remembrance of God’s faithfulness to His people. |
| B.B. Warfield (Princeton University, 1851–1921, Biblical Doctrines) | What’s his view? Warfield highlights the psalm as showing God’s covenantal care and the importance of obedience. |
| Alexander Maclaren (University of Manchester, 1826–1910, Expositions of Holy Scripture) | What does this scholar think? Maclaren sees the psalm as teaching joy in God’s providence and attentive listening to His voice. |
Psalms Chapter 81 Devotional: Thought for the day
Singing aloud is a strength to your soul and it empowers you to meditate on his faithfulness.
Message
Because the Lord realized how it is easy for man to forget God's goodness, He made it an order for the Israelites to sing aloud. Why would God do such a thing? Singing quietly may be easily hijacked by the adversary of your soul known as worry and anxieties, but singing loudly requires all of your power and focus; would you try it now? Your spiritual man is boosted if you sing loudly.
Let me share a secret with you: singing loudly is one of the weapons you can use to free your soul from the valley of dryness. The more you sing, the more vibrant your spirit man will be. See what happened to the Israelites in our text above: The Lord was aware that the devil was after them in order to make them forget his faithfulness, so He continued to warn them to sing of His faithfulness, to sing of His love.
Check Psalm 81 verse 11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me
They refused to do what the Lord demanded, and they lost faith in God and began to worship a different and false god instead. May I advise you that singing loudly is one of the secrets to spiritual stability; you take control of your environment, and your spirit is awakened.
In Jesus' name, I declare you blessed today; whatever is holding you back is shattered. Receive the strength to sing even in the midst of difficulties in Jesus' Name.
My Counsel
Praising God is a blessing to us. He is God all by Himself. You may have many reasons not to sing, however, sing aloud to Him because He is worthy!
Declaration
Father, I am sorry to have been entangled with my needs and worries. I break loose from my worries, and from my pain today in Jesus' Name. I receive my deliverance to be able to sing aloud to my God and nothing shall hold me back again, in Jesus name. Amen.
