Restore Us, Lord Of Hosts (Psalm 80)

 

Psalm 80 is attributed to Asaph, not David, and Derek Kidner dates it about the time of the Assyrian threat. The tone is set in the first two verses – Ps 80:1-2. This is both a prayer and a song (see the superscription). God is addressed as the Shepherd of Israel, and, Israel as a vine – Ps 80:8.

  1. Lament the woeful state of God’s people.
    • they are miserable – Ps.80:4-6. Israel is a vine brought out of Egypt – Ps.80:8-13. The fences are broken down, and wild boars can get in and ravage the place.
    • verse 4 implies that there is something radically wrong in Israel. See Ps.66:18. Pull all these things together, and we have God angry, Israel weeping, and Israel’s enemies mocking. It all points back to the sins of Israel, of God’s covenant people. Note 1 Peter 4:17.
    • Isa.5:1, 7. What does Asaph do in such unpromising circumstances?
  2. Pray for the restoration of God’s people.
    • Ps.80:3, 7, 14, 19. Asaph is looking for God to ‘restore us’ – or ‘bring us back’, says Alec Motyer. Three times too we have ‘Let Your face shine’ which is a vivid description of God’s favour (Num.6:22-26).
    • three times Asaph mentions the outcome, that we may be saved.
  3. Look to the Messiah to come.
    • the situation is disastrous – Ps.80:14-16. Israel cannot save itself, but there seems to be the promise of salvation – Ps.80:17-18. Israel is the vine; Jesus the true vine (John 15:1) The Son of God sits at the Father’s right hand (Ps.110:1; Mark 12:35-37). The Son of Man is the king in God’s kingdom (Dan.7:13-14; Mark 14:62). Jesus is saying: ‘I am that true vine; I am the Son of God; I am the Son of Man.’