Psalms 80

Psalms 80:1

Psalm 80: The Man of God’s Right HandThe sorrow and sighing which permeate so many of the Psalms are continued here also. First under the figure of a flock, then of a vine, Israel pleads for forgiveness and restoration. 80:1-3 The appeal is addressed to the Shepherd of Israel, a name of God which appeared in Jacob’s blessing of Joseph"the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel" (Gen_49:24). It was He who led Joseph like a flock from Egypt to Canaan. It was He who in the glory cloud was enthroned between the cherubim which overshadowed the mercy seat in the most holy place. But now it seems that He has deserted Israel, and the sanctuary has been destroyed, thus the prayer for Him to shine forth in mercy and favor before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. These were the three tribes that were in the vanguard of the procession when the Kohathites carried the ark. Here they represent all of Israel.

They desperately desire God to stir up His strength (perhaps we would say “to flex His muscles”) and to move in to their rescue. They appeal that He restore them from captivity. If only His face would shine on them in compassion, their deliverance would be assured. 80:4-7 Terrible distance has come in between Israel and the LORD God of hosts (Jehovah Elohim Sabaoth). He is angry not only with their sins but even with their prayers. For food He has given them a diet of weeping, and for drink a torrent of tears. He has made them a cause of strife and contention to their Gentile neighbors, and they are the butt of cruel jokes among their enemies. There is only one solutionthat is for the God of hosts (Elohim Sabaoth) to look down in grace and salvation upon them. 80:8-11 God brought Israel out of Egypt like a tender vine. In order to plant it in the promised land, He cast out the Canaanites. As the owner of a vineyard clears the ground and cultivates it, so the Lord took great pains with His people. The transplant was successful. The vine took deep root and the population multiplied and filled the land. The vine became luxuriant, higher than the hills in glory and stronger than the mighty cedars. Its tendrils reached out to the Mediterranean Sea on one side and to the River Euphrates on the other. Under the reign of Solomon Israel occupied land as far east as the Euphrates (1Ki_4:21, 1Ki_4:24), but this was very temporary. 80:12, 13 But then God lowered His protective wall and allowed the marauding nations to pick away at the vine. The boar and other wild animals came in and laid it wastefirst Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia, then in later years Persia, Greece, and Rome. In using the figure of a boar, the psalmist wrote beyond his knowledge because centuries later Israel was ravaged by the Roman Army with the boar proudly displayed as its military ensign. 80:14, 15 Once more the people implore the God of hosts to return to them in blessing. They want Him to look down from the ramparts of heaven and take pity on this vine which they describe as “the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, and the branch that You made strong for Yourself.” The Targum, interestingly enough, renders this “and upon the King Messiah, whom You have established for Yourself.” In verse 15 it seems more consistent to regard the vineyard and the branch as referring to Israel. Two verses later the Messiah is unmistakably introduced. 80:16 The vine has been cut down and burned by the invading armies. They deserve to perish by a condemning frown from the Lord. 80:17, 18 “Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.” The Man of God’s right hand is the Lord Jesus Christ (Psa_110:1; Heb_1:3; Heb_8:1; Heb_10:12). The Son of Man is the title by which He most frequently spoke of Himself in the Gospels. Full and complete blessing will only come to Israel when He is given His proper place. Then Israel will never backslide again. Revived by the Lord, they will call upon the name of the Lord. 80:19 The familiar refrain closes the Psalm. The Shepherd is urged to restore His wandering sheep. One smile from the LORD God of hosts and Israel shall be saved.