Heaven’s Voice Pleading – Psalm 81

Asaph opens Psalm 80 with an event signaled by trumpets illustrating the great privilege and promises attending the people of God if only they turn again unto Him. Asaph continues in this framework for Psalm 81. Again, an event signaled by trumpets is recalled. Here we note Numbers 29 as Asaph finds occasion for his song with the feast of trumpets – followed by the Day of Atonement – concluding with the feast of tabernacles (or booths). If Psalm 81 was written to attend these events, it would be featured in the worship of the people frequently. Alexander Pirie writes: “...this day was a joyful festival, returning every month; but the first day of the 7th month was most solemn of the whole, being not only the first moon, but of the civil year. This was called the feast of trumpets – this joy was a memorial of the joy of creation, and the joy of giving the law, it also pre-indicated the blowing of the gospel trumpet, after the year of the “redeemed” began; and finally, it prefigured the last day, when the trumpet of God shall sound, and the dead shall be raised.” Given the significance of these moments in the nation's consciousness, Asaph employs them as a call to repentance and worship. In Psalm 80, the priestly cry to heaven on behalf of the people – In Psalm 81, the prophetic cry from heaven to the people on behalf of Yahweh Himself...