D2 S1 1-10. Israel. God's call to praise and hearken
S2 11-16. Israel. refusal and consequences.
S1 T 1-3. Call to praise. [Positive.]
U 4-6. Deliverance from Egypt. Reason.
V u 7-. Israel. Prayer.
v -7. God's answer.
T 8,9. Call to hear. [Negative.]
U 10-. Deliverance from Egypt. Reason.
V u -10-. Israel. Command.
v -10. God's promise.
Psalm 81)
1 Sing aloud to God our strength:
Make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.
2 Raise a song, and bring here the timbrel, (See Ex. 15:20.)
The pleasant harp with the lute.
3 Blow up the trumpet (see Num. 2:10) in the new moon,
In the time appointed, on our solemn feast days.
4 For this was a statute for Israel,
And a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This He (i.e. God) ordained in Joseph for a testimony,
When He went forth before (i.e. in the sight of. Cp. Num. 33:3.) the land of Egypt:
Where I heard a language that I (i.e. Israel) understood not.
6 I (God) removed his shoulder from the burden:
His hands were delivered from the baskets. (Depicted in Egyptian paintings as being used in brick-making.)
7 You called in trouble,
And I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder:
I proved you (cp. Ex. 17:6. Num. 20:1-13) at the waters of Meribah. Selah. (Connecting the merciful deliverance with the reason why Israel should harken)
8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you:
O Israel, if you will hearken to Me;
9 There shall no god of the foreigner be in you;
Neither shall you worship any strange god.
10 I am the LORD your God, (The title of the Lawgiver.)
Which brought you out of the land of Egypt:
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
S2 W 11. Refusal to hear.
X 12. Consequence. The worst possible.
W 13. If they had heard.
X 14-16. Consequence. The most blessed.
11 But My people would not hearken to My voice;
And Israel had no mind for me.
12 So I let him (Israel) go on to their own hearts' stubbornness: (The greatest judgment God could have given them; or given us.)
And they walked in their own counsels.
13 Oh that My people had hearkened to Me,
And Israel had walked (plural) in My ways!
14 I should soon have subdued their enemies,
And turned my hand against their adversaries.
15 The haters of the LORD (i.e. Israel's enemies) should have submitted themselves to Him:
But their time should have endured for ever.
16 He would have fed them also with the finest of the wheat:
And with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied you.