[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
[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
[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
[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
[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
[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
[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.
Psalm 81 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 5
[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
[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
[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
[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
[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
[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
[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.