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Matthew Henry

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 81:11

But my people would not hearken to my voice ,.... Neither as exhorting them to the above duties, nor as promising the above favours; would neither hearken to the voice of the law, nor to the voice of the Gospel; but were like the deaf adder, which stops its ear to the voice of the charmer, charming never so wisely: and Israel would none of me ; would not attend to his word, acquiesce in his will, nor delight themselves in him, and in his worship and service; would have none of his... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:13

O that my people had hearkened unto me ,.... This might have been expected from them, as they were his professing people; and it would have been to their advantage if they had hearkened to him, as well as it would have been well pleasing to him; for that is what is designed by this wish, which does not express the purposing will of God; for who hath resisted that? if he had so willed, he could have given them ears to hear; but his commanding will, and what is his approving one: to hearken to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:14

I should soon have subdued their enemies ,.... The Canaanites, and others: this he would have done in a very little time, or at once, and that easily, and without any trouble; he would quickly have humbled them, and brought them on their knees, as the word F7 אכניע "flecterem", Cocceius. signifies, to terms of peace; for when a man's ways please the Lord, he makes his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16:7 so those that hearken to the voice of Christ, and walk in his ways,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:15

The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him ,.... Or, "lied unto him" F8 יכחשו "mentientur", Montanus; "mentiti fuissent", Vatablus; "mentirentur", Musculus, Cocceius, Gejerus; "mendaciter se dedissent", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; feignedly submitted to him, flattered him, pretended friendship to him, and entered into a league with him; either Israel, mentioned Psalm 81:13 , our God, whom and whose worship and people they hated; as every natural man... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 81:16

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat ,.... Or the "fat of the wheat F25 מחלב חטה "ex adipe frumenti", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus; "adipe tritici", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis. "; see Deuteronomy 32:14 , with the finest flour of it: the Targum is, "with the best bread of wheat;' with the best of wheat, and the best bread that can be made of it: Aben Ezra interprets it of the manna, which was better than the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:11

Israel would none of me - לי אבה לא lo abah li , They willed me not, they would not have me for their God. 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 81:13

O that my people had hearkened unto me, - Israel had walked in my ways - Nothing can be more plaintive than the original; sense and sound are surprisingly united. I scruple not to say to him who understands the Hebrew, however learned, he has never found in any poet, Greek or Latin, a finer example of deep-seated grief, unable to express itself in appropriate words without frequent interruptions of sighs and sobs, terminated with a mournful cry. yl (m# ym( wl יהלכו בדרכי ישראי... read more

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