Psalms 81:15

The haters of the Lord should haue submitted themselues vnto him: but their time should haue endured for euer. Psalms 81:15 (KJV)

Here’s a breakdown of this verse and its meaning in context:

Haters of the LORD: The psalmist refers to those who oppose or reject God, who rebel against His authority and refuse to acknowledge Him as their Lord.

Should have submitted themselves unto Him: This phrase implies that it was within the power and will of these individuals to choose to submit themselves to God. They had the opportunity to humble themselves, acknowledge His authority, and align their lives with His will.

Their time should have endured forever: This phrase indicates that if these individuals had chosen to submit themselves to God, their earthly prosperity and longevity would have been preserved.

Contextually, Psalm 81 is a psalm of Asaph, the chief musician, and it focuses on the history of Israel and their disobedience to God’s commands. The psalmist reflects on how God had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and established them as a chosen people. However, they had turned away from Him and worshipped false gods, provoking His righteous anger. In Psalm 81:15, the psalmist laments the missed opportunity for those who opposed the Lord, expressing regret that they did not choose to submit themselves to God and experience the temporal blessings that would have resulted from such a relationship. The phrase “The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever” does not appear in the biblical text. Psalm 81 is indeed attributed to Asaph, the chief musician, and it recites Israel’s history of disobedience and God’s deliverance from Egypt. However, Psalm 81:15 in the King James Version reads, “But he would not hear, nor would he take it to heart; but turned aside, as a horse, to his desire,” which speaks of Israel’s stubbornness rather than a lament over missed opportunity or promises of eternal life.