Psalm 80: A Plea for Restoration and the Allegory of the Vine

Psalm 80

1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that lead Joseph like a flock; you that dwell between the cherubim, shine forth.

2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up your strength, and come and save us.

3 Turn us again, O God, and cause your face to shine; and we shall be saved.

4 O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry against the prayer of your people?

5 You feed them with the bread of tears; and give them tears to drink in great measure.

6 You make us a strife to our neighbors: and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause your face to shine; and we shall be saved.

8 You have brought a vine out of Egypt: you have cast out the heathen, and planted it.

9 You prepared room before it, and did cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.

10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.

11 She sent out her boughs to the sea, and her branches to the river.

12 Why have you then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?

13 The boar out of the wood does waste it, and the wild beast of the field does devour it.

14 Return, we beseech you, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, 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 on the man of your right hand, on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.

18 So will not we go back from you: quicken us, and we will call on your name.

19 Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause your face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Psalm 80 is a heartfelt plea for restoration, using the poignant imagery of a vine to describe God's relationship with His people and their urgent need for His divine favor and presence Psalm 80:1-19.

The Shepherd of Israel

The Psalm opens with an appeal to the "Shepherd of Israel," the one who leads the people like a flock and dwells between the cherubim Psalm 80:1. This Shepherd is the same divine Being who brought Israel out of Egypt and cast out the heathen to prepare a place for them Psalm 80:8GC 19.2. In times of trouble, the people cry out for Him to shine forth and stir up His strength to save them Psalm 80:1-2.

The Vine of God’s Planting

The central theme of the Psalm is the transition of Israel from a flourishing plant to a devastated vineyard Psalm 80:8-16.

• The Exotic Planting: God brought a "goodly vine" out of Egypt and planted it in a very fruitful hill Psalm 80:8GC 19.2. His own hand prepared the room for it, causing it to take deep root and fill the land so that its shadow covered the mountains Psalm 80:9-10.

• Divine Care: The heavenly Husbandman hedged the vineyard about, gathered out the stones, and planted it with the choicest seedGC 19.2+1. He built a tower in its midst and a winepress, providing every possible nurture and protection Isaiah 5:1-2PK 17.3.

• The Degeneration: Despite this tender care, when the Lord looked for grapes, the vine brought forth wild grapes Isaiah 5:4GC 19.2+1. Israel turned into a "degenerate plant of a strange vine," becoming an "empty vine" that brought forth fruit only for itself Jeremiah 2:21+1TT 11.2+1.

The Consequences of Rebellion

Because the people forsook the fountain of living waters and turned to oppression, the Lord removed the protective hedge of the vineyardPK 19.2+1.

• Devastation: The walls were broken down, allowing the "boar out of the wood" to waste it and the wild beasts of the field to devour it Psalm 80:12-13.

• Divine Judgment: The vineyard was left to be trodden down; it was no longer pruned or digged, resulting in a landscape of briers and thornsPK 19.2+1.

The Prayer for Restoration

The repeated refrain of the Psalm is a cry for spiritual renewal: "Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved" Psalm 80:3, 7, 19.

• Looking to the Son of Man: The psalmist prays for God’s hand to be upon "the man of thy right hand" and "the son of man," whom God made strong for Himself Psalm 80:17. This points toward Christ, the True Vine, who was sent to save the vineyard from total destruction John 15:1GC 19.2+1.

• A Promise of Fidelity: The people pledge that if they are revived, they will not go back from God, but will call upon His name forever Psalm 80:18.

Hope in the True Vine

While ancient Israel failed to fulfill God’s purpose, hope remains through a vital union with ChristPK 19.2+1. All who are joined to the True Vine as branches receive the same nourishment, vitality, and power to bear the fruits of righteousness John 15:55MR 362.2+1. No opposition from Satan can uproot the vine of God’s own planting when His children abide in Him and keep His commandments John 15:105T 599.1. 🌿✨