This Psalm is an appeal to God to save His people from the adversities that have come upon them, and have made them the laughing stock of their enemies (v. 1~7). Their past history is recalled under the figure of a vine, once flourishing, but now wasted by wild beasts and fire (v. 8~16). Special prominence is given to the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (v. 2). After the fall of the northern kingdom (721 b.c., 2Kings 17:5~6; 18:9~11), the later prophets cherished the hope of a restoration which would embrace the whole nation (Jeremiah 3:11~15; 31:1-20; Ezekiel 37:15~28).
The burden of the psalm is expressed in the repeated prayer (v. 3, 7, 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. "Turn us again, O God"; "Turn us again, O God of hosts"; "Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts".
That they now pray to "the LORD" means that they are appealing to the covenant relationship between God and His people. We know that that relationship is restored by the blood of the new covenant shed by the Mediator, the Man of God’s right hand, the Son of Man (v. 17).
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Psalms 80:2
Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.
Psalms 80:3
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Psalms 80:4
O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
Psalms 80:5
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
Psalms 80:6
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
Psalms 80:7
Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Psalms 80:8
Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.
Psalms 80:9
Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.
Psalms 80:10
The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.
Psalms 80:11
She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.
Psalms 80:12
Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?
Psalms 80:13
The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
Psalms 80:14
Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;
Psalms 80:15
And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.
Psalms 80:16
It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
Psalms 80:17
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
Psalms 80:18
So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
Psalms 80:19
Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
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