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John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO Psalms 81 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A [Psalm] of Asaph. Of "gittith", [See comments on Psalms 8:1]. The Targum renders it, "upon the harp which came from Gath;'' and so Jarchi says it was a musical instrument that came from Gath. The Septuagint, and the versions which follow that, render it, "for the winepresses". This psalm, according to Kimchi, is said concerning the...
John Gill
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...
Matthew Henry
This psalm was penned, as is supposed, not upon occasion of any particular providence, but for the solemnity of a particular ordinance, either that of the new-moon in general or that of the feast of trumpets on the new moon of the seventh month, Lev. xxiii. 24; Num. xxix. 1. When David, by the Spirit, introduced the singing of psalms into the temple-service this psalm was intended for that day,...
Charles H. Spurgeon
Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways: And can we not echo that lament, and say, “Oh, that we had hearkened unto God, and that we had walked in his ways”? What a happy life would the believer enjoy if he always had an ear for God’s commandments and a foot for his ways!” Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!”
Charles H. Spurgeon
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own heart lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued the enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time...