Psalm 81:4

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:4

For this was a statute for Israel ,.... It was not a piece of will worship, or device of the children of Israel, but was of divine institution; that the passover should be kept at the time it was; and that the trumpets should be blown on the new moon, or first of Tisri; and that the feast of tabernacles should be kept on the fifteenth of the same month: and a law of the God of Jacob ; and therefore to be observed by Jacob's posterity: the law for the one is in Exodus 12:18 and for the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:4

This was a statute for Israel - See the statute, Numbers 10:10 ; (note), and Leviticus 23:24 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:4

Verse 4 4For this is a statute to Israel. To give the more effect to the preceding exhortation, it is here taught that this law or ordinance had been prescribed to God’s ancient people, for the purpose of ratifying the everlasting covenant. And as in covenants there is a mutual agreement between the parties, it is declared that this statute was given to Israel, and that God, in contracting, reserved this for himself, as a right to which he was justly entitled. 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 81:4

For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob; rather, this is a law (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). See the passages quoted in the preceding note. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 81:4

Authority in religion. "For this was a statute for Israel." Reference is directly to the "blowing up the trumpet in the new moon." However that might be done, because it was felt to be suitable, or because it was pleasant, it had to be done because it was required; and it would have to be done, whether men could recognize its suitability or not, whether men found it pleasant or not. There is authority in relation to religious observances; some persons more readily recognize and respond... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 81:4

For this was a statute for Israel ... - See Exodus 12:3. That is, it was a law for the whole Jewish people, for all who had the name Israel, for all the descendants of Jacob. The word was is not in the original, as if this had been an old commandment which might now be obsolete, but the idea is one of perpetuity: it is a perpetual law for the Hebrew people.A law of the God of Jacob - Hebrew, a judgment; or, right. The idea is, that it was what was due to God; what was his right. It was a solemn... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 81:4-5

Psalms 81:4-5 . For this was a statute for Israel This is no human device, but a divine institution; God hath appointed and commanded this solemn feast to be announced and observed in this manner. This Namely, the blowing of trumpets; he ordained in Joseph Among the posterity of Joseph, namely, the people of Israel, as is evident both from the foregoing verse, where they are called Israel, and from the following words of this verse, where they are described by their coming out of Egypt,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:1-16

Psalms 81:0 A festival songIn the traditions that grew up around the Jewish festivals, this song was sung annually at the Feast of Tabernacles. (For this feast see Leviticus 23:33-36,Leviticus 23:39-43.) The song opens with a reminder of God’s command to keep this joyous festival in remembrance of his goodness in saving his people from Egypt (1-5).God then recounts how he lifted the burden of slavery from the backs of his people and looked after them as they travelled through the barren... read more

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