We are still in the same connection; for this Psalm is the expression of the Remnant quickened, as they had desired in Psalm 80. It is the language of their souls now revived and repentant, or of Israel keeping the feast of trumpets, which was the type of Israel’s repentance in the latter day, according to Leviticus 23. This is the true blowing of the trumpet in the new moon, or the expression of Israel’s revival after the present Gentile interval (Psa. 81:1-51<<To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.>> Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. 3Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. 4For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 5This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not. (Psalm 81:1‑5))—the time of returning light, or when the moon shines again under the light of her lord.
But the Lord is moved by this repentance of Israel, and then rehearses both His ways and their ways in older times—by this, vindicating His dealings with them; for He lets them understand that it was their own folly and evil which had made this revival necessary; that had they obeyed His voice, “their time should have endured forever” —they should have known no breach or interruption at all. He has now in His grace quickened them afresh; but He desires that they may never forget this—that they themselves have made a revival or re-quickening necessary.
But He not only vindicates His dealings with them in this way; but His words are beautifully suited to deepen and strengthen the spirit of repentance in them, as the look of Jesus at Peter worked, together with the cock crowing, in restoring his soul. And this is quite natural—so strikingly does God enter into the ways of the heart of man. The heart, in a day of softness and repentance, would powerfully feel such an appeal as this.
Psalm 80:1313The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. (Psalm 80:13) may remind us of Deuteronomy 5:2929O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! (Deuteronomy 5:29), and of Isaiah 48:1818O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: (Isaiah 48:18)—from all of such passages we gather other witnesses to the deep tenderness and sympathies of the Lord; for before Israel sins, He is presented as longing that they may not sin, but remain a blessed people; after they have sinned, He is presented as mourning over their evil and loss of blessing.