Psalm 81:1
81:1 To the chief Musician upon {a} Gittith, [A Psalm] of
     Asaph. Sing {b} aloud unto God our strength: make a
     joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

     (a) An instrument of music brought from Geth.
     (b) It seems that this psalm was appointed for solemn
         feasts and assemblies of the people to whom for a time
         these ceremonies were ordained, but now under the
         gospel are abolished.

Psalm 81:3
81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the {c} new moon, in the time
     appointed, on our solemn feast day.

     (c) Under this feast he comprehends all other solemn days.

Psalm 81:5
81:5 This he ordained in {d} Joseph [for] a testimony, when he
     went out through the land of Egypt: [where] I heard a
     language [that] {e} I understood not.

     (d) That is, in Israel for Joseph's family was counted the
         chief while before, Judah was preferred.
     (e) God speaks in the person of the people because he was
         their leader.

Psalm 81:6
81:6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were
     delivered from the {f} pots.

     (f) If they were never able to give sufficient thanks to
         God, for this deliverance from corporal bondage, how
         much more are we indebted to him for our spiritual
         deliverance from the tyranny of Satan and sin?

Psalm 81:7
81:7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I {g}
     answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee
     at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

     (g) By a strange and wonderful fashion.

Psalm 81:8
81:8 {h} Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O
     Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

     (h) He condemns all assemblies where the people are not
         attentive to hear God's voice, and to give obedience to
         the same.

Psalm 81:10
81:10 I [am] the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the
      land of Egypt: {i} open thy mouth wide, and I will fill
      it.

      (i) God accuses their incredulity, because they did not
          open their mouths to receive God's benefits in such
          abundance as he pours them out.

Psalm 81:13
81:13 {k} Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel
      had walked in my ways!

      (k) God by his word calls all, but his secret election
          appoints who will bear fruit.

Psalm 81:14
81:14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my
      hand {l} against their adversaries.

      (l) If their sins had not.

Psalm 81:15
81:15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves
      unto him: but their time {m} should have endured for ever.

      (m) If the Israelites had not broken covenant with God, he
          would have given them victory against their enemies.

Psalm 81:16
81:16 He should have fed them also with the {n} finest of the
      wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have
      satisfied thee.

      (n) That is, with most fine wheat and abundance of honey.