◄ Psalm 81:2 ►
Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.
Study Bible
Lift up a song
This phrase emphasizes the importance of vocal worship in the life of the believer. Singing has been a central part of worship throughout biblical history, as seen in the songs of Moses (Exodus 15) and David (Psalms). It reflects the joy and gratitude of God's people and serves as a means to proclaim His mighty works. In the New Testament, Paul encourages believers to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19), indicating the continuity of this practice in Christian worship.

Strike the tambourine
The tambourine, or timbrel, was a common percussion instrument in ancient Israel, often used in celebrations and religious ceremonies. It is associated with joy and victory, as seen when Miriam led the women of Israel in song and dance with tambourines after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20). The use of the tambourine in worship highlights the physical expression of praise and the communal aspect of worship, as it often accompanied group celebrations.

Play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre
The harp and lyre were stringed instruments used in temple worship and personal devotion. David, known for his skill with the harp, used it to soothe Saul (1 Samuel 16:23) and composed many psalms with it. These instruments symbolize the beauty and harmony of worship, reflecting the order and creativity of God. The mention of these instruments underscores the importance of musical excellence and artistry in worship, pointing to the heavenly worship described in Revelation, where harps are also mentioned (Revelation 5:8).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Asaph
The author of Psalm 81, Asaph was a prominent Levite musician appointed by King David to lead worship in the tabernacle. His role was crucial in the musical worship of Israel.

2. Israel
The nation to whom the Psalm is addressed, representing God's chosen people who are called to worship and remember His deeds.

3. Feast of Tabernacles
While not explicitly mentioned in this verse, Psalm 81 is traditionally associated with this feast, a time of joyous celebration and remembrance of God's provision during the Israelites' wilderness journey.
Teaching Points
The Role of Music in Worship
Music is a powerful tool for worship and is deeply rooted in biblical tradition. It serves as a means to express joy, gratitude, and reverence towards God.

Instruments as Expressions of Praise
The use of instruments like the tambourine, harp, and lyre in worship is a biblical practice that enhances the expression of praise and can be incorporated into modern worship settings.

Joyful Celebration in Worship
Worship should be a joyful celebration of God's goodness and faithfulness. Believers are encouraged to engage in worship with enthusiasm and sincerity.

Remembrance through Worship
Worship serves as a reminder of God's past faithfulness and His promises. It is an opportunity to reflect on His deeds and renew our trust in Him.

Community in Worship
Worship is a communal activity that unites believers in a shared expression of faith and devotion. It strengthens the body of Christ and fosters a sense of belonging.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the use of music and instruments in worship enhance your personal experience of God's presence?

2. In what ways can you incorporate joyful celebration into your daily worship practices, both individually and corporately?

3. Reflect on a time when a song or hymn helped you remember God's faithfulness. How can you use music to cultivate a heart of gratitude?

4. How does the communal aspect of worship impact your relationship with other believers and your understanding of the church as the body of Christ?

5. Consider the role of worship in your spiritual life. How can you ensure that your worship is both sincere and reflective of God's character and deeds?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 15
The Song of Moses and Miriam after the crossing of the Red Sea is an example of lifting up a song in response to God's deliverance, similar to the call in Psalm 81:2.

1 Chronicles 15
Describes the use of musical instruments in worship during the transportation of the Ark of the Covenant, highlighting the importance of music in Israel's worship practices.

Colossians 3:16
Encourages believers to let the word of Christ dwell richly among them, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, connecting the Old Testament practice to New Testament worship.
Sermons
The Consecration of MusicR. Tuck Psalm 81:1-3
A Revelation of Three Great SubjectsHomilistPsalm 81:1-16
Exhortation to Sing God's PraisePsalm 81:1-16
People
Asaph, Jacob, Joseph, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Bring, Corded, Harp, Hither, Instrument, Instruments, Lift, Lute, Lyre, Melodious, Melody, Music, Play, Playing, Pleasant, Psalm, Psaltery, Raise, Song, Sounding, Strike, Sweet, Tambour, Tambourine, Timbrel
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 81:1-2

     5332   harp
     5420   music
     7960   singing

Psalm 81:1-3

     5421   musical instruments

Psalm 81:1-7

     8609   prayer, as praise and thanksgiving

Library
Chapter I Beginning and Early Days of the Orphan Work.
BEGINNING AND EARLY DAYS OF THE ORPHAN WORK. "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."--1 Peter, i. 7. Mr. George Mueller, the founder of the New Orphan-Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol (institutions that have been for many years the greatest monuments of modern times to a prayer-answering God), gives in that most valuable and instructive book, "A …
George Müller—Answers to Prayer

Ask what I Shall Give Thee. 1Ki 3:05
 …
John Newton—Olney Hymns

How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. "
We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, first, Of his being a way. Our design being to point at the way of use-making of Christ in all our necessities, straits, and difficulties which are in our way to heaven; and particularly to point out the way how believers should make use of Christ in all their particular exigencies; and so live by faith in him, walk in him, grow up in him, advance and march forward toward glory in him. It will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of Christ …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Heart's Desire Given to Help Mission Work in China.
"Sept. 30 [1869].--From Yorkshire L50.--Received also One Thousand Pounds to-day for the Lord's work in China. About this donation it is especially to be noticed, that for months it had been my earnest desire to do more than ever for Mission Work in China, and I had already taken steps to carry out this desire, when this donation of One Thousand Pounds came to hand. This precious answer to prayer for means should be a particular encouragement to all who are engaged in the Lord's work, and who may …
George Müller—Answers to Prayer

The Fifth Day in Passion-Week - Make Ready the Passover!'
When the traitor returned from Jerusalem on the Wednesday afternoon, the Passover, in the popular and canonical, though not in the Biblical sense, was close at hand. It began on the 14th Nisan, that is, from the appearance of the first three stars on Wednesday evening [the evening of what had been the 13th], and ended with the first three stars on Thursday evening [the evening of what had been the 14th day of Nisan]. As this is an exceedingly important point, it is well here to quote the precise …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Spiritual Hunger Shall be Satisfied
They shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 I proceed now to the second part of the text. A promise annexed. They shall be filled'. A Christian fighting with sin is not like one that beats the air' (1 Corinthians 9:26), and his hungering after righteousness is not like one that sucks in only air, Blessed are they that hunger, for they shall be filled.' Those that hunger after righteousness shall be filled. God never bids us seek him in vain' (Isaiah 45:19). Here is an honeycomb dropping into the mouths of …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
The law of God originates in his nature, but the attributes of his creatures are due to his sovereignty. The former is, accordingly, to be viewed as necessarily obligatory on the moral subjects of his government, and the latter--which are all consistent with the holiness of the Divine nature, are to be considered as called into exercise according to his appointment. Hence, also, the law of God is independent of his creatures, though made known on their account; but the operation of their attributes …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them, in thought, word, and deed. In many things we offend all.' James 3: 2. Man in his primitive state of innocence, was endowed with ability to keep the whole moral law. He had rectitude of mind, sanctity of will, and perfection of power. He had the copy of God's law written on his heart; no sooner did God command but he obeyed. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

How Does it Come?
How does the Filling of the Spirit come? "Does it come once for all? or is it always coming, as it were?" was a question addressed to me once by a young candidate for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. There are many asking the same question. We have considered how the Fullness is obtained, but now we proceed to consider, How does the Fullness come? In speaking of the blessing of being filled with the Spirit, the New Testament writers use three tenses in the Greek--the Aorist, the Imperfect, and the …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

The Nature of Spiritual Hunger
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness Matthew 5:6 We are now come to the fourth step of blessedness: Blessed are they that hunger'. The words fall into two parts: a duty implied; a promise annexed. A duty implied: Blessed are they that hunger'. Spiritual hunger is a blessed hunger. What is meant by hunger? Hunger is put for desire (Isaiah 26:9). Spiritual hunger is the rational appetite whereby the soul pants after that which it apprehends most suitable and proportional …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Justifying or Sanctifying Grace
Sanctifying grace is defined by Deharbe as "an unmerited, supernatural gift, imparted to the soul by the Holy Ghost, by which we are made just, children of God, and heirs of Heaven." As it makes sinners just, sanctifying grace is also called justifying, though this appellation can not be applied to the sanctification of our first parents in Paradise or to that of the angels and the sinless soul of Christ. Justification, as we have shown, consists in the infusion of sanctifying grace, and hence it …
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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