81:6-7 God had told His people that He was freeing them from their bondage as slaves in Egypt. They had cried out to Him in their distress and He answered them from heaven.
"To judge by this model, it is good to recall God's answers with some sharpness of detail."147
Then He tested them at the waters of Meribah to see if they would trust Him (Exod. 17:7).
81:8-10 These verses summarize God's revelation to Israel at Mt. Sinai where He gave them the Mosaic Law.
81:11-12 Israel had not kept God's law, however. Consequently He let His people go their own way.
81:13-16 Asaph continued to relate God's account of Israel's history since the Exodus. If only His people would obey Him He would subdue their enemies and adversaries. He would also bless them abundantly with prosperity (cf. Deut. 32:13-14). The last verse addresses Israel in the second person and constituted a call to the present generation of readers to follow God faithfully.
It is important to review God's past grace periodically and regularly because His faithfulness will challenge His people to remain faithful to Him.
