1 {To the chief Musician. On Shoshannim-Eduth. Of Asaph. A Psalm.} Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that sittest [between] the cherubim, shine forth.
2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up thy strength, and come to our deliverance.
3 O God, restore us; and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
4 Jehovah, God of hosts, how long will thine anger smoke against the prayer of thy people?
5 Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in large measure:
6 Thou hast made us a strife unto our neighbours, and our enemies mock among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; and cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
8 Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt; thou didst cast out the nations, and plant it:
9 Thou preparedst space before it, and it took deep root, and filled the land;
10 The mountains were covered with its shadow, and the branches thereof were [like] cedars of ùGod;
11 It sent out its boughs unto the sea, and its shoots unto the river.
12 Why hast thou broken down its fences, so that all who pass by the way do pluck it?
13 The boar out of the forest doth waste it, and the beast of the field doth feed off it.
14 O God of hosts, return, we beseech thee; look down from the heavens, and behold, and visit this vine;
15 Even the stock which thy right hand hath planted, and the young plant thou madest strong for thyself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.
17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou hast made strong for thyself.
18 So will we not go back from thee. Revive us, and we will call upon thy name.
19 Restore us, O Jehovah, God of hosts; cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 80
Commentary on Psalms 80 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 80
Ps 80:1-19. Shoshannim—"Lilies" (see on Ps 45:1, title). Eduth—Testimony, referring to the topic as a testimony of God to His people (compare Ps 19:7). This Psalm probably relates to the captivity of the ten tribes, as the former to that of Judah. Its complaint is aggravated by the contrast of former prosperity, and the prayer for relief occurs as a refrain through the Psalm.
1, 2. Joseph—for Ephraim (1Ch 7:20-29; Ps 78:67; Re 7:8), for Israel.
Shepherd—(Compare Ge 49:24).
leadest, &c.—(Ps 77:20).
dwellest … cherubim—(Ex 25:20); the place of God's visible glory, whence He communed with the people (Heb 9:5).
shine forth—appear (Ps 50:2; 94:1).
2. Before Ephraim, &c.—These tribes marched next the ark (Nu 2:18-24). The name of Benjamin may be introduced merely in allusion to that fact, and not because that tribe was identified with Israel in the schism (1Ki 12:16-21; compare also Nu 10:24).
3. Turn us—that is, from captivity.
thy face to shine—(Nu 6:25).
4. be angry—(Compare Margin.)
5. bread of tears—still an Eastern figure for affliction.
6. strife—object or cause of (Isa 9:11). On last clause compare Ps 79:4; Eze 36:4.
8-11. brought—or, "plucked up," as by roots, to be replanted.
a vine—(Ps 78:47). The figure (Isa 16:8) represents the flourishing state of Israel, as predicted (Ge 28:14), and verified (1Ki 4:20-25).
12. hedges—(Isa 5:5).
13. The boar—may represent the ravaging Assyrian and
the wild beast—other heathen.
14, 15. visit this vine—favorably (Ps 8:4).
15. And the vineyard—or, "And protect or guard what thy right hand," &c.
the branch—literally, "over the Son of man," preceding this phrase, with "protect" or "watch."
for thyself—a tacit allusion to the plea for help; for
16. it—the "vine" or
they—the "people" are suffering from Thy displeasure.
17. thy hand … upon—that is, strengthen (Ezr 7:6; 8:22).
man of … hand—may allude to Benjamin (Ge 35:18). The terms in the latter clause correspond with those of Ps 80:15, from "and the branch," &c., literally, and confirm the exposition given above.
18. We need quickening grace (Ps 71:20; 119:25) to persevere in Thy right worship (Ge 4:26; Ro 10:11).
19. (Compare Ps 80:3, "O God"; Ps 80:7, "O God of hosts").