Bible Commentaries
Psalms 80

Verses 1-19

Psalms 80

Prayer For Restoration

This prayer for restoration of Israel, when she (the ten tribes) had been carried away by the Assyrians, was made by Asaph, for temple worship in Jerusalem. Judah offered the prayer in sympathy for her fallen sister Israel to the north, Psalms 77; Psalms 78:67.

Scripture v. 1-19:

Verse 1 calls on the Shepherd God of Israel, Judah’s captive sister, that led Joseph like a flock, the God who continually shined forth (with Shekinah glory) between the Cherubim (upon the mercy seat) to shine forth again, mightily to drive the oppression and darkness from the remnant of the land of Israel, Psalms 23:1; Genesis 48:15; Genesis 49:24; See also Exodus 25:20; 1 Samuel 14:4; Psalms 99:1; Ezekiel 10:4; Deuteronomy 33:2; 1 Peter 1; 1 Peter .

Verse 2 appeals "Before Ephraim, Benjamin, (a party of whom were in Israel to the north) and Manasseh, stir up (stand up) thy strength, and come and save us," advancing before them as He did in the pillar of cloud and of fire of old, Numbers 2:17-24. His strength now seemed to slumber. They called upon Him to come to them in His strength, as a shepherd to his sheep when they cry in pain or fear, to be rescued, Psalms 78:65.

Verse 3 cries "Turn us again (as in the past) O God, and cause thy face (or favor) to shine, and we shall be saved," as in times past, La 5:21. They cried that their captivity might be reversed, turned back, Psalms 126:1; Psalms 126:4; Genesis 28:15; See also Jeremiah 12:15; Jeremiah 16:15; Jeremiah 30:3. They of Judah cried for God’s face or good favor to shine on Israel again.

Verse 4-7 complain of their oppression, ask the Lord just how long it must continue. Verse 4, addressing the Lord God of heaven’s host inquires, "How long wilt thou be angry against the prayer (plea) of thy people?" How long will the fiery smoke of your judgment hover over thy people? is the question. The covenant God Jehovah was judging His people justly for their sins, as He had forewarned; yet, He had to hear from heaven when they turned, prayed aright, Deuteronomy 29:20; 2 Chronicles 7:12-16.
Verse 5 adds, "thou feedest them with the bread of tears," giving them a great measure of tears to drink, in sorrow for their sins and Divinely sent sufferings, Psalms 42:3; Psalms 102:9; Isaiah 30:20. It is a sad contrast to what the shepherd gives to his obedient sheep that follow his voice, Psalms 23:5.

Verses 6, 7 relate that their enemy who had oppressed them, stolen their goods, were now an object of returning strife, camped nearby, both laughing and striving among themselves, as they divided their booty taken from Israel. They, the Assyrians, made Israel their laughing stock, as forewarned, Deuteronomy 28:15; Deuteronomy 28:20; Deuteronomy 28:31; Deuteronomy 28:49-51.
Verse 7 pleads again, "turn us again, O God of hosts, (omnipotent, all powerful, living God) and cause thy face (favor) to shine, and we shall be saved," delivered, v. 3, 19, because of the integrity you have toward your covenant, Exodus 19:18; Jeremiah 3:18; Luke 1:16. It is even as our Lord has pledged to bless His church-covenant people today, to be with and in them always, Matthew 28:20; John 14:16-17; Matthew 16:18; Hebrews 13:5.

Verses 8-9 describe Israel as God’s vine brought out of Egypt, planted and long tended by the Lord in Palestine, as now a prey to beasts of Assyria, in dire trouble. Verses 8, 9 declare "thou hast brought (rescued) a vine out of Egypt, cast out the heathen and planted it" in Palestine. That vine was Israel, whom God had made room for in Palestine, caused the vine to take deep root, till it filled the land, Genesis 49:22; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:6; Ezekiel 17:6; Ezekiel 19:10; Hosea 14:7; Matthew 21:33-41; John 14:8; John 14:16-17; John 14:27.

Verses 10, 11 describe the vine-Israel’s bows and branches as extended over the hills, "like goodly (ideal) cedars," the sea, and unto the river, from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates, Exodus 23:31; Psalms 72:8; Genesis 28:14; Joshua 1:4; Deuteronomy 9:24.

Verses 12, 13 Inquire just why God has "broken down her hedges," removed her fences, her protection, so that all who passed by, through the land could take her livelihood as booty, Psalms 89:40-41; Isaiah 5:5; Nahum 2:2. Four parties had plucked her fields, Pul, Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, and Sennacherib. Even the wild boar of the woods and wild beasts of the field now spoiled Israel freely, as also symbolizing every type of oppressing heathen power, Psalms 68:30; Ezekiel 29:3; Ezekiel 17:3.

Verses 14, 15 entreat the Lord to return, look down from heaven, behold the vine of his right hand, that He had planted, how she was now being destroyed, which he had once made strong for Himself. The idea is "have pity now," Psalms 90:13; Joel 2:14; Zechariah 1:12; Zechariah 1:16-17; Malachi 3:7; Acts 15:13; Isaiah 63:15; Isaiah 49:9; Isaiah 49:5; Hosea 11:1.

Verses 16, 17 lament that it, the vine, is burnt with fire, having been cut down; The people of Israel (ten tribes) lay perishing at the rebuke of God’s countenance. Verse 17 appeals, "let thy hand (omnipotent God) be upon the man (messiah man) of thy right hand, the Son of man," whom He had made strong, as set forth Psalms 89:21; Psalms 110:1; Isaiah 53:5; Daniel 7:13. See too Exodus 4:22; John 5:21; John 5:27; Zechariah 3:8; Zechariah 6:12.

Verses 18, 19 conclude that if God will intercede at this time and save them, quicken them to holy living again, they will call upon His name and not go back from following Him any more, a fine promise, but so often broken; The refrain rises again, "turning us again ... cause thy face (favor) to shine; and we will be saved," and truly there is no other refuge, Psalms 46:1; Psalms 145:18-19; Numbers 6:15; Psalms 27:14; Psalms 27:9; Psalms 31:16; Psalms 44:3; See too Psalms 71:20; Romans 8:15.