Background to Psalms 81

Here is a good cheer, beginning with music(v.2) and ending with fine food(v16). Here too, between the tambourines and harps and lyres on the one hand and the wheat and honey on the other, is a challenge like that of the Asaph psalm in BookII and the familiar Venite(psalm 50 and 95) in BookIV.

According to Michael Wilcock, Psalms 81 is "a liturgical psalm, for a congregation meeting to recall those days; and since along with the rescue itself the psalmist commemorates also the lawgiving at Sinai and God's provision for people in the desert, it must be a hymn for the feast of the Tabernacle". 

Michael Gungor talks about the difference as a song writer between writing liturgical music and personal songs in the video below. For more on the liturgical use of psalms 81 click here.

Graham Kendrick (from) in his album "Let It Fill The Room", writes this song  Is Anyone Thirsty? which he has taken from Psalm 16:11, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 81:10, Psalm 126:2-3, Song of Solomon 1:3. Try singing parts of scripture you have enjoyed so far and sing them. For tips on psalm surfing click here.