John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:2
Take a psalm ,.... Or "lift one up" F25 שאן "attollite", Piscator; "tollite", Cocceius, Amama, Gejerus. ; hold up the book, and read and sing it; or rather, lift up the voice in singing a psalm: and bring hither the timbrel ; or "give one" F26 תנו "date", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; , put the hand to one: the pleasant harp with the psaltery ; make use of all these musical instruments in singing, and so make an agreeable melody: these were used in the times of the Old... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 81:1-7
When the people of God were gathered together in the solemn day, the day of the feast of the Lord, they must be told that they had business to do, for we do not go to church to sleep nor to be idle; no, there is that which the duty of every day requires, work of the day, which is to be done in its day. And here, I. The worshippers of God are excited to their work, and are taught, by singing this psalm, to stir up both themselves and one another to it, Ps. 81:1-3. Our errand is, to give unto... read more