Raise a song and strike the timbrel,
The pleasant harp with the lute. (Psalm 81:2)
As the song unto God is raised, so should skilful music also be raised from instruments. Asaph lists three: the timbrel, the pleasant harp, and the lute.
The timbrel was a small hand-held drum that was played with a tambourine-like motion, while the harp was a stringed instrument known for its beautiful, soothing sound. The lute was a plucked string instrument with a rounded back and a long neck and was often used to accompany singing.
3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob. (Psalm 81:3-4)
The preceding verse mentions the use of musical instruments in religious worship, but notably absent from the list is the trumpet. However, the trumpet played a crucial role in the worship practices of God's people, serving as a signal to call them together for their designated feast days, particularly on the New Moon.
The Hebrew word used for trumpet in the biblical text is "shophar" or "sopar," which refers to a ram's horn. This type of trumpet had a long and rich history in ancient Israel, having been used for various purposes, such as signalling the start of the battle, as in the case of the attack at Jericho and Gideon's battle.
The shophar was also used to announce important festal days, adding a sense of solemnity and reverence to these special events.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)
The verse encourages us to open our mouths wide in worship as if we were singing with all our might. Open your mouth wide to praise Him. God will fill it to the extent you can open it for Him. The reverse is also implied: God would not fill the closed mouth.
Just give the Holy Spirit your mouth and let Him fill it. The Holy Spirit yearns to pray through you and offer up praise and petitions to God on your behalf. Rather than speaking from our own limited understanding and perspective, we allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for us and to communicate with God in a way that transcends our own limitations.
The pleasant harp with the lute. (Psalm 81:2)
As the song unto God is raised, so should skilful music also be raised from instruments. Asaph lists three: the timbrel, the pleasant harp, and the lute.
The timbrel was a small hand-held drum that was played with a tambourine-like motion, while the harp was a stringed instrument known for its beautiful, soothing sound. The lute was a plucked string instrument with a rounded back and a long neck and was often used to accompany singing.
3 Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon,
At the full moon, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this is a statute for Israel,
A law of the God of Jacob. (Psalm 81:3-4)
The preceding verse mentions the use of musical instruments in religious worship, but notably absent from the list is the trumpet. However, the trumpet played a crucial role in the worship practices of God's people, serving as a signal to call them together for their designated feast days, particularly on the New Moon.
The Hebrew word used for trumpet in the biblical text is "shophar" or "sopar," which refers to a ram's horn. This type of trumpet had a long and rich history in ancient Israel, having been used for various purposes, such as signalling the start of the battle, as in the case of the attack at Jericho and Gideon's battle.
The shophar was also used to announce important festal days, adding a sense of solemnity and reverence to these special events.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)
The verse encourages us to open our mouths wide in worship as if we were singing with all our might. Open your mouth wide to praise Him. God will fill it to the extent you can open it for Him. The reverse is also implied: God would not fill the closed mouth.
Just give the Holy Spirit your mouth and let Him fill it. The Holy Spirit yearns to pray through you and offer up praise and petitions to God on your behalf. Rather than speaking from our own limited understanding and perspective, we allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for us and to communicate with God in a way that transcends our own limitations.
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40
- Chapter 41
- Chapter 42
- Chapter 43
- Chapter 44
- Chapter 45
- Chapter 46
- Chapter 47
- Chapter 48
- Chapter 49
- Chapter 50
- Chapter 51
- Chapter 53
- Chapter 54
- Chapter 55
- Chapter 56
- Chapter 57
- Chapter 58
- Chapter 59
- Chapter 60
- Chapter 61
- Chapter 69
- Chapter 70
- Chapter 71
- Chapter 72
- Chapter 76
- Chapter 77
- Chapter 79
- Chapter 80
- Chapter 81
- Chapter 82
- Chapter 83
- Chapter 85
- Chapter 86
- Chapter 87
- Chapter 88
- Chapter 89
- Chapter 90
- Chapter 105
- Chapter 127
- Chapter 128
- Chapter 130
- Chapter 131
- Chapter 132
- Chapter 133
- Chapter 138
- Chapter 139
- Chapter 140
- Chapter 142
- Chapter 144
- Chapter 145
- Chapter 148
- Chapter 149
- Chapter 150