Psalm-81-for-Thursday

 

 

-hebraicstudies.net-

Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2“Mechon-Mamre.org (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God), having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

YYYYYYY

Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

YYYYYYY

“Psalm 81 for Thursday”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

During each week, why not join us and read a Psalm each day. Below is a list of the seven Psalms, especially chosen for us to be read on a weekly basis!

During each week, let us read the following Psalms:

Sunday: Psalm 24, Monday: Psalm 48, Tuesday: Psalm 82, Wednesday: Psalm 94, Thursday: Psalm 81, Friday: Psalm 93, Shabbat/Saturday: Psalm 92.

Please Note: Each of the seven Psalms will be located on a separate page, complete with the Psalm of the day, which will be followed by a commentary!

Thursday Psalm 81:

1. For the Leader; upon the Gittith. (A Psalm) of Asaph. 2. Sing aloud unto אֱלֹהִים - Elohim our strength; shout unto the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Jacob. 3. Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery. 4. Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day. 5. For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim of Jacob. 6. He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear: 7. ‘I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. 8. Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah. 9. Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me! 10. There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any foreign god. 11. I am יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 12. But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me. 13. So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart that they might walk in their own counsels. 14. Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! 15. I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries. 16. The haters of יְהוָה - the LORD should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever. 17. They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee’”.

YYYYYYY

Commentary on Chapter 81:

Verse 1: Text: ‘For the Leader; upon the Gittith. (A Psalm) of Asaph’.

Commentary: This opens with instructions for the musical director. ‘Gittith’ refers to a specific instrument or tune from the city of Gath. Asaph is named as the author.

Verse 2: Text, ‘Sing aloud unto God our strength; shout unto the God of Jacob’.

Commentary: The text commands the people to praise God loudly. God is described as the physical and spiritual strength of Israel.

Verse 3: Text: ‘Take up the melody, and sound the timbrel, the sweet harp with the psaltery’.

Commentary: Multiple instruments are called to action here. The drums, harps, and stringed instruments must join together in harmony.

Verse 4: Text: ‘Blow the horn at the new moon, at the full moon for our feast-day’.

Commentary: This specifies the exact timing for the festival. The shofar or horn is blown to signal the arrival of the sacred calendar dates.

Verse 5: Text: ‘For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob’.

Commentary: This praise is not optional. It is a permanent law and decree given directly to the nation by God.

Verse 6: Text: ‘He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, when He went forth against the land of Egypt. The speech of one that I knew not did I hear’:

Commentary: "Joseph" represents the entire nation here. The decree was established during the Exodus from Egypt, where Israel heard God’s unfamiliar voice.

Verse 7: Text: ‘I removed his shoulder from the burden; his hands were freed from the basket’.

Commentary: God speaks directly here. He describes physically rescuing the people from the heavy lifting and forced labour of slavery.

Verse 8: Text: ‘Thou didst call in trouble, and I rescued thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah’. Selah.

Commentary: God reminds them of the wilderness journey. He answered them from the stormy clouds of Mount Sinai and tested their faith when they lacked water.

Verse 9: Text: ‘Hear, O My people, and I will admonish thee; O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto Me!’

Commentary: A passionate plea from the Creator. God asks His chosen nation to simply listen and follow His guidance.

Verse 10: Text: ‘There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any foreign god’.

Commentary: This is a strict command for absolute loyalty. Israel must not let outside cultures or false idols into their hearts.

Verse 11: Text: ‘I am the LORD thy God, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it’.

Commentary: God reminds them of their historical deliverance. He promises that if they rely entirely on Him, He will satisfy all their physical and spiritual needs.

Verse 12: Text: ‘But My people hearkened not to My voice; and Israel would none of Me’.

Commentary: The text shifts to a sorrowful observation. Despite everything, the nation refused to listen and rejected God's presence.

Verse 13: Text: ‘So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, that they might walk in their own counsels’.

Commentary: God allowed them to face the consequences of free will. He stepped back and let them follow their own flawed, human logic.

Verse 14: Text: ‘Oh that My people would hearken unto Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!’

Commentary: God expresses deep, divine longing. He wishes His people would choose the path of righteousness for their own benefit.

Verse 15: Text: ‘I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries’.

Commentary: If they obeyed, victory would be immediate. God would step in and remove all external threats and oppressors.

Verse 16: Text: ‘The haters of the LORD should dwindle away before Him; and their punishment should endure for ever’.

Commentary: Those who oppose righteousness would lose all power. Their defeat would be permanent and absolute.

Verse 17: Text: ‘They should also be fed with the fat of wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee’.

Commentary: The psalm ends with a promise of luxury and survival. God provides the finest grain and sweet nourishment from the most unlikely, dry places.

Enter - Friday-Psalm-93

YYYYYYY

Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following through a number of our prophets...

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts” Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

YYYYYYY

“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

Enter ... 

http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm

 

Enter ... 

https://www.hebraicstudies.net

 

 

 

 

-hebraicstudies.net-

 

 

 

Email the Rabbi

 

RBA@hebraicstudies.net

 

If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.

 

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid 1980’,

but there have been occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context

under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.

Thus, it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...

Copyright © 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All rights reserved.