Psalms Chapter 80 For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Lilies of the Covenant." A Psalm by Asaph.
1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might! Come to save us!
3 Turn us again, God. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
4 LORD God of Armies, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure.
6 You make us a source of contention to our neighbours. Our enemies laugh amongst themselves.
7 Turn us again, God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations, and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it. It took deep root, and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shadow. Its boughs were like God's cedars.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea, its shoots to the River.
12 Why have you broken down its walls, so that all those who pass by the way pluck it?
13 The boar out of the wood ravages it. The wild animals of the field feed on it.
14 Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,
15 the stock which your right hand planted, the branch that you made strong for yourself.
16 It's burnt with fire. It's cut down. They perish at your rebuke.
17 Let your hand be on the man of your right hand, on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.
18 So we will not turn away from you. Revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Turn us again, LORD God of Armies. Cause your face to shine, and we will be saved.
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Psalms Chapter 80 For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "The Lilies of the Covenant." A Psalm by Asaph. Guide
Again we have a song out of the midst of distress. There is far more light and colour about it than in the previous one. The circumstances do not seem to be any more favourable than those described before. There is this difference however, between the two psalms. The first is mainly occupied with the disastrous conditions; this one begins with a prayer which is a recognition of the past relationship of God to His people.
This is therefore a great song of God as Shepherd. The aspects of the shepherd nature dealt with are those of His guidance and care protection. The Shepherd of glory, Who by the shining saves from danger, is appealed to. Then the figure is changed, and God is the Husbandman. His vine, which He planted and which flourished so perfectly has become a prey to the ravages of wild beasts and fire. Suddenly the figure ceases, and its meaning is revealed in the words,
"Let Thy hand be upon the man of Thy right hand,
Upon the son of man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself."
The burden of the psalm is expressed in the thrice repeated prayer (vv. Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:7; Psalms 80:19). The suffering of the people is due to their own sin in turning away from God as Shepherd, Husbandman, and King. Their restoration can only come as He turns them back to Himself. Notice the ascent in these verse in the names which the singer uses for God. "God," "God of Hosts," "Jehovah God of Hosts."
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Psalms Chapter 80 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The psalmist complains of the miseries of the church. -- (1-7)
- Its former prosperity and present desolation. -- (8-16)
- A prayer for mercy. -- (17-19)
Verses 1-7
He that dwelleth upon the mercy-seat, is the good Shepherd of his people. But we can neither expect the comfort of his love, nor the protection of his arm, unless we partake of his converting grace. If he is really angry at the prayers of his people, it is because, although they pray, their ends are not right, or there is some secret sin indulged in them, or he will try their patience and perseverance in prayer. When God is displeased with his people, we must expect to see them in tears, and their enemies in triumph. There is no salvation but from God's favour; there is no conversion to God but by his own grace.
Verses 8-16
The church is represented as a vine and a vineyard. The root of this vine is Christ, the branches are believers. The church is like a vine, needing support, but spreading and fruitful. If a vine do not bring forth fruit, no tree is so worthless. And are not we planted as in a well-cultivated garden, with every means of being fruitful in works of righteousness? But the useless leaves of profession, and the empty boughs of notions and forms, abound far more than real piety. It was wasted and ruined. There was a good reason for this change in God's way toward them. And it is well or ill with us, according as we are under God's smiles or frowns. When we consider the state of the purest part of the visible church, we cannot wonder that it is visited with sharp corrections. They request that God would help the vine. Lord, it is formed by thyself, and for thyself, therefore it may, with humble confidence, be committed to thyself.
Verses 17-19
The Messiah, the Protector and Saviour of the church, is the Man of God's right hand; he is the Arm of the Lord, for all power is given to him. In him is our strength, by which we are enabled to persevere to the end. The vine, therefore, cannot be ruined, nor can any fruitful branch perish; but the unfruitful will be cut off and cast into the fire. The end of our redemption is, that we should serve Him who hath redeemed us, and not go back to our old sins.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.