◄ Psalm 81:6 ►
"I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.
Study Bible
I relieved his shoulder of the burden
I relieved
The Hebrew word used here is "הֲסִירוֹתִי" (hasiroti), which means to remove or take away. This action signifies God's intervention and deliverance. In the context of Israel's history, it reflects God's active role in liberating His people from oppression. This divine relief is not just physical but also spiritual, symbolizing God's desire to free His people from the burdens of sin and spiritual bondage. It is a reminder of God's grace and mercy, emphasizing His willingness to intervene in the lives of His people.

his shoulder
The shoulder is often used metaphorically in the Bible to represent strength and the ability to bear burdens. In ancient times, physical labor and carrying loads were common, and the shoulder was the primary part of the body used for such tasks. By mentioning the shoulder, the verse highlights the personal and tangible nature of the burden that was being carried. It underscores the weight of oppression that the Israelites experienced in Egypt and how God personally addressed their suffering.

of the burden
The Hebrew word for burden is "מִסְבָּל" (misbal), which refers to a heavy load or duty. In the historical context of Israel, this burden was the harsh slavery and forced labor imposed by the Egyptians. Spiritually, it can also represent the burdens of sin and guilt that weigh down individuals. The removal of this burden by God is a powerful image of liberation and redemption. It serves as a metaphor for the freedom that believers find in Christ, who invites all to come to Him for rest from their heavy burdens (Matthew 11:28-30).

Persons / Places / Events
1. God (Yahweh)
The speaker in this verse, who is the deliverer and sustainer of His people.

2. Israelites
The people whom God delivered from slavery in Egypt, symbolized by the removal of burdens.

3. Egypt
The place of bondage and slavery for the Israelites, representing oppression and hardship.

4. Exodus
The event of God delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, a central theme in this verse.

5. Moses
The leader chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, though not directly mentioned, is a key figure in the context of deliverance.
Teaching Points
God as Deliverer
God is faithful to relieve His people from their burdens, both physical and spiritual. Trust in His power to deliver you from your own struggles.

Symbolism of Burdens
The burdens and baskets symbolize the oppression and labor under sin. Reflect on areas in your life where you need God's intervention to lift these burdens.

Spiritual Freedom
Just as God freed the Israelites, He offers spiritual freedom through Christ. Embrace this freedom and live a life that reflects His deliverance.

Historical Context
Understanding the historical context of the Exodus enriches our appreciation of God's deliverance. Study the Exodus account to see God's hand in history.

Response to Deliverance
Our response to God's deliverance should be one of gratitude and obedience. Consider how you can live a life that honors God for the freedom He provides.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the historical context of the Exodus enhance your appreciation of Psalm 81:6?

2. In what ways can you identify with the burdens mentioned in this verse, and how can you seek God's relief from them?

3. How does the theme of deliverance in Psalm 81:6 connect to the freedom offered in Christ as described in the New Testament?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's deliverance in your life. How did it change your relationship with Him?

5. How can you apply the lessons of God's deliverance in Psalm 81:6 to help others who are burdened or oppressed?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 6:6-7
This passage describes God's promise to deliver the Israelites from the burdens of the Egyptians, directly connecting to the theme of relief from burdens in Psalm 81:6.

Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest, echoing the relief from burdens found in Psalm 81:6.

Isaiah 9:4
This verse speaks of breaking the yoke of burden, similar to the imagery in Psalm 81:6, highlighting God's power to liberate His people.

Galatians 5:1
Paul speaks of the freedom Christ provides, paralleling the liberation from physical and spiritual burdens.
Sermons
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
Aside, Basket, Baskets, Burden, Delivered, Free, Freed, Hands, Pass, Pots, Relieved, Removed, Shoulder, Shoulders, Weight
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 81:6

     5227   basket

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

Links
Psalm 81:6 NIV
Psalm 81:6 NLT
Psalm 81:6 ESV
Psalm 81:6 NASB
Psalm 81:6 KJV

Psalm 81:6 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 81:5
Top of Page
Top of Page