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Psalm 80

Psalm 80 is a communal lament that calls upon God to restore and save His people, likely composed during a time of national crisis. It reflects Israel’s sense of abandonment, asking God to intervene and restore them to their former glory. The psalmist appeals to God as the Shepherd of Israel, recounting how He previously cared for His people and pleading for His light to shine upon them once more. The psalm is filled with imagery of vineyards, symbolizing Israel, and expresses a heartfelt cry for divine intervention and renewal.

Psalm 80:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
You who lead Joseph like a flock;
You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
Stir up Your strength,
And come and save us!
3 Restore us, O God;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

The psalmist addresses God as the Shepherd of Israel, invoking His care and guidance over the nation, much like a shepherd leads his flock. The reference to Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh represents northern tribes, highlighting the plea for national unity and salvation. The repeated cry to “cause Your face to shine” reflects the desire for God’s favor and presence to bring restoration and deliverance.

Psalm 80:4-7 (NKJV)
4 O Lord God of hosts,
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 great measure.
6 You have made us a strife to our neighbors,
And our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

The psalmist expresses the distress felt by Israel, perceiving God's anger as persistent despite their prayers. They describe their suffering with vivid imagery of tears as their food and drink. Their plight has led to division among neighbors and mockery from enemies. The cry for restoration is repeated, with the hope that God’s favor will once again save them from their misery and shame.

Psalm 80:8-13 (NKJV)
8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt;
You have cast out the nations, and planted it.
9 You prepared room for it,
And caused it to take deep root,
And it filled the land.
10 The hills were covered with its shadow,
And the mighty cedars with its boughs.
11 She sent out her boughs to the Sea,
And her branches to the River.
12 Why have You broken down her hedges,
So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?
13 The boar out of the woods uproots it,
And the wild beast of the field devours it.

The psalmist reflects on Israel's history, comparing the nation to a vine that God brought from Egypt and planted in the Promised Land. It grew and flourished, spreading across the region. However, the imagery shifts as the psalmist laments the destruction of the vine, with broken hedges symbolizing the loss of divine protection. Now, enemies ravage the nation like wild animals, emphasizing the need for God’s intervention.

Psalm 80:14-19 (NKJV)
14 Return, we beseech You, O God of hosts;
Look down from heaven and see,
And visit this vine
15 And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted,
And the branch that You made strong for Yourself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down;
They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance.
17 Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand,
Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself.
18 Then we will not turn back from You;
Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
Cause Your face to shine,
And we shall be saved!

The psalm concludes with an urgent plea for God to return and restore Israel. The psalmist appeals to God to look upon the vine He planted, now in ruin, and revive it. The “man of Your right hand” and “son of man” may refer to Israel as God’s chosen people or prophetically point to the Messiah. The psalmist vows faithfulness in response to God’s restoration, and the chapter ends with a final plea for God’s favor and salvation.

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