A Call to Worship, a Warning Against Idols, and God’s Promise to Satisfy the Obedient

Psalm 81 opens with a call to joyful worship, urging Israel to sing, use instruments, and keep God’s appointed feast as a testimony to His covenant. The Lord then speaks, reminding His people that He delivered them from Egypt and removed the burden of slavery, answering them in trouble. Yet the psalm turns into a solemn warning: God’s people would not listen, and they were drawn toward strange gods and stubborn hearts. Because of this refusal, God “gave them up” to their own counsels—showing that persistent disobedience has consequences. Still, the chapter ends with a merciful invitation and promise: if Israel would listen and walk in His ways, God would subdue their enemies and satisfy them with the finest provision.

Psalms 81:1 – 81:16

  1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph. 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.
  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.