Psalm 81:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 81:8-16

God, by the psalmist, here speaks to Israel, and in them to us, on whom the ends of the world are come. I. He demands their diligent and serious attention to what he was about to say (Ps. 81:8): ?Hear, O my people! and who should hear me if my people will not? I have heard and answered thee; now wilt thou hear me? Hear what is said with the greatest solemnity and the most unquestionable certainty, for it is what I will testify unto thee. Do not only give me the hearing, but hearken unto me,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:12

So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust ,.... Sometimes God gave them up, when they sinned, into the hands of the Moabites, or Ammonites, or Philistines, or other neighbouring nations, for their chastisement; but to be delivered up unto their own hearts' lust is worse than that; nay, than to be delivered to Satan: salvation may be the consequence of that, but damnation of this; and yet it is a righteous judgment; for as men like not to retain God in their knowledge, it is but just with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:12

Unto their own hearts' lust - To the obstinate wickedness of their heart. In their own counsels - God withdrew his restraining grace, which they had abused; and then they fulfilled the inventions of their wicked hearts. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:1-16

Psalms 81:1-5 appear to be the preface of a song of thanksgiving, intended for public recitation at one of the great public festivals—either the Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles. Psalms 81:6-16 are part of a psalm of complaint, wherein God expostulates with his people. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:6-16

The "discourse" is now given. It commences somewhat abruptly, and is, perhaps, itself a fragment, the beginning of which is lost. God reminds Israel of his past favours ( Psalms 81:6 , Psalms 81:7 ), exhorts them to faithfulness ( Psalms 81:8 , Psalms 81:9 ), promises them blessings ( Psalms 81:10 ), complains of their waywardness ( Psalms 81:11 , Psalms 81:12 ), and finally makes a last appeal to them to turn to him, and recover his protection, before it is too late ( Psalms... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:11-12

Given up. Note— I. THE CONDITION CONTEMPLATED . It meant: 1 . No longer held back from sin. "Their own hearts' lust" was to lead them now. 2 . No longer urged to goodness. 3 . The Spirit no longer striving with them. 4 . Divine chastisements abandoned. (Cf. Isaiah 1:5 .) See the history of Israel for proof of all this. And it is true still, when a soul is "given up" by God—when even his resources seem exhausted. II. ITS TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:12

So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust. God's Spirit will not always strive with men ( Genesis 6:3 ). After a time, if they persist in evil courses and disobedience to his commands, he "gives them up," withdraws from them, leaves them to themselves, to the "lust," or rather "stubbornness" of their own hearts—to their own perverse wills and imaginations. And they walked in their own counsels (comp. Jeremiah 7:24 ). This result is inevitable. If God no longer guides their thoughts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:12

Our own way our worst woe. Our text a declaration of God's dealing with rebellious men. We note concerning it that— I. IT TELLS OF A PUNISHMENT WHICH SEEMS NO PUNISHMENT AT ALL . Those who rebelled so grievously against God were allowed to do just as they liked, to have their own way as they pleased. 1 . Now, our text does tell of punishment. It is not a statement of indifference On the part of God, or of failure, but of his holy displeasure. 2 . And it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 81:12

So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust - Margin, as in Hebrew, to the hardness of their own hearts. Literally, “I sent them, or I dismissed them, to the hardness of their hearts.” I suffered them to have what, in the hardness of their hearts they desired, or what their hard and rebellious hearts prompted them to desire: I indulged them in their wishes. I gave them what they asked, and left them to themselves to work out the problem about success and happiness in their own way - to let... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 81:12

Psalms 81:12. So I gave them up, &c. Upon their obstinate and oft-repeated acts of disobedience, and their rejection of my grace and mercy offered to them, I withdrew all the restraints of my providence, and my Holy Spirit and grace from them, and wholly left them to follow their own vain and foolish imaginations, and wicked lusts. And they walked in their own counsels The consequence of my thus giving them up to their own depraved inclinations was, that they practised all those... read more

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