For the music director; according to the gittith style; by Asaph.
Asaph was a Levitical priest during the time of King David. He wrote this song for the Levitical music director. The “gittith style” was a popular tune of that day. This song would be sung at the Jewish festivals. This particular song was about the Feats of Tabernacles.
81:1 Shout for joy to God, our source of strength! Shout out to the God of Jacob!
The Jewish people were to shout for God at the Feast of Tabernacles.
81:2 Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument!
These songs were to be accompanied with musical instruments. There are many churches who will not allow musical instruments in their worship services. This is legalism. These types of churches are adding rules to the Scriptures.
Christians have freedom to worship with or without musical instruments. Jesus worshiped with musical instruments, because He kept the Mosaic Law and obeyed the teachings in the Psalms. Psalm 150 commands everyone to worship God with all kinds of musical instruments. The purpose of music is to glorify God.
81:3 Sound the ram’s horn on the day of the new moon, and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.
The ram’s horn was sounded at the Feast of Tabernacles.
81:4 For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.
All males were required to attend three festivals per year. The three festivals were Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.
81:5 He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize.
Joseph is another name for Israel. When Joseph brought Israel into Egypt, they were later enslaved by a different pharaoh. God brought Israel out of Egypt by the leadership of Moses. The voice of God was heard by these Jews for the first time. This new voice decreed the Mosaic Law, including the festival regulations.
81:6 It said: “I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket.
Jewish slaves carried bricks in baskets. God gave the Jewish slaves their freedom and rescued them from this burden.
81:7 In 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)
The Jews cried out to God for deliverance from Egyptian slavery, so God listened and answered their prayer. God brought Israel to the Promised Land, but He tested them at the waters of Meribah.
The twelve spies went into Canaan. Ten of them brought back a bad report. They did not think that God was strong enough to bring them into the land and defeat the Canaanites. This was a human viewpoint decision which was made by the majority.
Only Joshua and Caleb passed this test at Meribah. They knew that God could bring Israel into the land. They knew that He could defeat the giants and the strongholds of the Canaanites. This was a divine-viewpoint decision based upon strong Bible doctrine. Joshua and Caleb understood the Biblical doctrines of God’s omnipotence and sovereignty over all nations.
The Jewish people failed the test when they went along with the majority report. Most of the time, the majority view is wrong. Many of the decisions of the majority is made by those who are ignorant of Bible doctrine.
Joshua and Caleb knew Bible doctrine, but no one would listen to them. This is the same spiritual state which the American electorate is in today. The electorate is ignorant of Bible doctrine, so they are choosing foolish political leaders who make human viewpoint decisions which destroy the nation. America needs to get back to the Bible, or they will end up destroying themselves.
81:8 I said, ‘Listen, my people! I will warn you! O Israel, if only you would obey me!
The Jewish people did not have enough Bible doctrine to listen to God.
81:9 There must be no other god among you. You must not worship a foreign god.
Satan is behind all of the false religions of the world. Foreign gods were demons who disguised themselves as gods.
10 I 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!’
Jehovah was the God who brought Israel out of Egypt; He has the omnipotent power to shepherd and feed all of Israel.
81:11 But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.
Israel was totally depraved and evil, so even God’s miracles could not persuade them to follow Jehovah.
81:12 I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.
Israel was so stubborn, that God allowed them to live in their sin and destroy themselves. America is so stubborn, that God is allowing them to live in their sin and destroy themselves.
81:13 If only my people would obey me! If only Israel would keep my commands!
If Israel would have kept the Mosaic Law, then God would have blessed them. However, God made a covenant with Israel. Part of that covenant promised curses to Israel if they did not keep the Law. Since Israel did not keep the Law, God had to keep His promise and curse Israel. Otherwise, the Gentile nations would have called God a liar.
81:14 Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries.”
If Israel would have kept the Mosaic Law, then God would have attacked and subdued their enemies.
81:15 (May those who hate the Lord cower in fear before him! May they be permanently humiliated!)
Asaph prayed that those who hate Jehovah would end up cowering in fear before Him. He prayed that they would be eternally humiliated. These prayers will be answered at the Great White Throne Judgment. When the books are opened, all unbelievers will be found guilty. They will be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever.
81:16 “I would feed Israel the best wheat, and would satisfy your appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs.”
If Israel would keep the Mosaic Law, then God would bless them with abundant wheat and honey. It is interesting to note that it is rare to find honey in rocky cliffs; however, God would have provided honey in these cliffs if Israel would have been obedient to Him.