Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

Psalm 81. It is not easy to put this psalm in a category; it actually resembles the oracles of the OT prophets; perhaps it is therefore best to think of it as a prophetic hymn. Prediction is not the primary function of the OT prophets, any more than it is of this psalm: rather, their goal is to challenge God's people to covenant faithfulness, speaking to them of covenant blessings or punishments that will come, depending on their response. This psalm reviews the basic history of the covenant (using the Pentateuch), charges Israel with unfaithfulness, and urges them to embrace the covenant--then God would subdue Israel's enemies. Verse 2 refers to the trumpet at the new moon and at the full moon. This may well indicate that the psalm was suited to the Feasts of Trumpets (the first day of the seventh month, the new moon) and Booths (the 15th day of the same month, when the moon was full), with the solemnity of the Day of Atonement in between them (Lev. 23:23-36). Certainly the overall theme of the psalm fits this setting.

81:1-3 Sing Aloud to God. The call to worship is a jubilant one; the people should shout for joy as well as play the various musical instruments, tambourine, lyre, harp, and trumpet. The new moon and full moon are the beginning and middle of months in ancient Israel; as the note on Psalm 81 suggests, this may show that the psalm was intended for the feast day of Trumpets (Lev. 23:23-25) and then Booths (Lev. 23:33-36), the beginning and middle of the seventh month. The rest of the psalm is quite somber in tone, and the exuberance of these verses reminds worshipers that even hearing some hard words from the Lord is a privilege, worthy of song and celebration.