Psalms 80

Psalm 80 is a corporate lament that invokes God as the Shepherd of Israel, pleading for His restoration of a people portrayed as a vulnerable vine in need of divine intervention. The psalmist contrasts God's past gracious leading of the tribes with their current state of misery and destruction.

• The psalmist calls upon the 'Shepherd of Israel' (רָעָה [H7462]) to hear, dwelling on His presence between the cherubim (כְּרוּב [H3742]).
• A specific appeal is made to stir up divine 'might' (גְּבוּרָה [H1369]) for the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
• The central refrain requests God to 'turn us again' (שׁוּב [H7725]) and cause His 'face' (פָּנִים [H6440]) to shine.
• The metaphor of the vine is introduced: God brought it out of Egypt (H8-11), yet now the hedges are broken, and it is being devoured.
• The psalm concludes with a plea to the 'man of thy right hand,' asking for revival and a final call for restoration.

• The tribes: Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh (v2).
• The metaphors: Shepherd/Flock (v1), Vine/Vineyard (vv8-16).
• The refrain: 'Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine' (vv3, 7, 19).
• The 'man of thy right hand' (v17).

This passage highlights the absolute dependence of God's covenant people upon His visible presence and sovereign action to maintain their identity and survival. It serves as a model for intercession during times of national or spiritual desolation.

Restoration is not an act of human initiative but a sovereign work of God, realized only when He turns His face toward His people to revive them.

The psalm follows a cyclical structure of lament and petition, beginning with the Shepherd imagery, transitioning into the allegory of the vine, and concluding by identifying the 'man of the right hand' as the agent of national revival.

• Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel (v1)
• Stir up thy strength (v2)
• Turn us again (v3, 7, 19)
• Look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine (v14)

• The state of being fed with 'bread of tears' when God is angry (v5).

• The mention of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh (v2) suggests the Northern Kingdom or the tribes closely associated with that region, likely composed during a period of external pressure or invasion.
• The 'boar out of the wood' and 'wild beast' (v13) symbolize external enemies plundering the land.

• The 'cherubim' (כְּרוּב [H3742]) refers to the ornamentation of the Ark of the Covenant, signifying the earthly place of God's manifest presence.

• The psalm is attributed to Asaph (אָסָף [H623]), often associated with lament psalms that address the corporate state of the nation.

• The vine imagery draws on the history of Israel's exodus from Egypt, framing the nation's identity as a 'planting' of the Lord.
• Matthew Henry observes that the vine is a fitting emblem of the church, which requires divine cultivation and support; he notes that while some historically interpret the 'man of the right hand' (v17) as the king of Israel, the Christian tradition has historically identified this figure as the Messiah, the true 'Branch' (a Christological reading).
• There is a historic interpretive tension regarding the 'vine' (vv8-16): Reformed theology often sees the vine as the covenantal community (both Israel and the Church) that must remain rooted in Christ; Dispensational perspectives emphasize a strict historical-national application to Israel, arguing against transferring these promises to the Church.

• The 'face' (פָּנִים [H6440]) language echoes the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, where the Lord makes His face shine upon His people.

• choirmaster: נָצַח [H5329] implies one who is eminent or serves as a superintendent of the music.
• Shepherd: רָעָה [H7462] involves the concept of grazing, tending, and intimate friendship.
• full measure: שָׁלִישׁ [H7991] refers to a three-fold measure, emphasizing the abundance of tears.
• restore: שׁוּב [H7725] literally means to turn back, used here as a plea for God to reverse the current state of decline.

• The psalmist uses the name 'Joseph' (v1) to represent the Northern tribes (Ephraim/Manasseh), highlighting the kinship bond God has with His people.
• The progression of the request: beginning with the request for God to 'listen' (v1), moving to 'look' (v14), and ending with a request for Him to 'save' (v19).

• The exact historical setting (which invasion) remains debated by scholars, as the internal references to 'the boar' and the broken 'hedges' could apply to several Assyrian or Babylonian incursions.