Bible Commentaries
Psalms 81

Verse 5

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.

Joseph — Among the people of Israel.

Testimony — For a witness of that glorious deliverance.

He — God.

Went — As a captain at the head of his people.

Egypt — To execute his judgments upon that land.

I — My progenitors, for all the successive generations of Israel make one body, and are sometimes spoken of as one person.

A language — The Egyptian language, which at first was unknown to the Israelites, Genesis 42:13, and probably continued so for some considerable time, because they were much separated both in place and conversation from the Egyptians.

Verse 6

I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

Pots — This word denotes all those vessels wherein they carried water, straw, lime, or bricks.

Verse 7

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. /*Selah*/.

Calledst — At the Red Sea.

Secret place — From the dark and cloudy pillar, whence I thundered against the Egyptians.

Verse 8

Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;

Testify — This God did presently after he brought them from Meribah, even at Sinai.

Verse 10

I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Wide — Either to pray for mercies, or to receive the mercies which I am ready to give you.

Verse 15

The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

Him — Unto Israel.

Their time — Their happy time.

Verse 16

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

Honey — With all pleasant and precious fruits.