What does Psalm 81:9 mean?
ESV: There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
NIV: You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me.
NASB: There shall be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship a foreign god.
CSB: There must not be a strange god among you; you must not bow down to a foreign god.
NLT: You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god.
KJV: There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
NKJV: There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god.
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 81:6–10 comes after a comment about a new language (Psalm 81:5). That phrase might mean that the psalmist is hearing the next words as if from God Himself. Or it might mean that the way in which God communicated with Israel changed drastically after leaving Egypt. Either way, the song describes how God freed Israel and provided them with miracles. The Lord expects the people to reject false gods and worship only Him, as He has commanded.
Chapter Summary:
Israel is called to remember God's incredible miracles on their behalf. As part of a feast day, the people are reminded of God's intervention during the exodus from Egypt. Some of this speaks from God's perspective. The psalm also notes that Israel responded to the Lord's rescue with disobedience. God wants His chosen people to follow His will; they will suffer the consequences of their own choices if they don't. To obey the Lord would bring Israel security and prosperity.
Chapter Context:
Asaph's song calls the people to celebrate a feast day, probably the Feast of Booths (Deuteronomy 16:13–15). It also mentions famous moments from Israel's journey out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Included are Passover (Exodus 11:4), the end of Egyptian slavery (Exodus 12:41), the incident at Meribah (Exodus 17:7), and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2–5). Aspects of this psalm recall God's promises and warnings about disobedience (Deuteronomy 28:1, 15).
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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