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Psalm 80

Prayer for Israel’s Restoration

To the leader: on Lilies, a Covenant. Of Asaph. A Psalm.

1

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,

you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth

2

before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.

Stir up your might,

and come to save us!

 

3

Restore us, O God;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

 

4

O L ord God of hosts,

how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?

5

You have fed them with the bread of tears,

and given them tears to drink in full measure.

6

You make us the scorn of our neighbors;

our enemies laugh among themselves.

 

7

Restore us, O God of hosts;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

 

8

You brought a vine out of Egypt;

you drove out the nations and planted it.

9

You cleared the ground for it;

it took deep root and filled the land.

10

The mountains were covered with its shade,

the mighty cedars with its branches;

11

it sent out its branches to the sea,

and its shoots to the River.

12

Why then have you broken down its walls,

so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?

13

The boar from the forest ravages it,

and all that move in the field feed on it.

 

14

Turn again, O God of hosts;

look down from heaven, and see;

have regard for this vine,

15

the stock that your right hand planted.

16

They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down;

may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.

17

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,

the one whom you made strong for yourself.

18

Then we will never turn back from you;

give us life, and we will call on your name.

 

19

Restore us, O L ord God of hosts;

let your face shine, that we may be saved.


4 O Jehovah, God of Hosts! God having in the Scriptures freely promised, and so often assured us, that the prayers of his people will not be disappointed, it may excite our surprise to find the faithful here alleging before him, that he continues unpacified, although they betake themselves to him. They complain not only that they are not heard, but also that he is angry, when they call upon him; as if he purposely rejected this religious service. Where, then, it may be said, is that promise recorded in Isaiah 65:24, “Before they call I will answer?” To this I would answer, That as God, by delaying to succor his people, tries their patience, the prophet, speaking according to the judgment of the flesh, represents him as deaf to their prayers. Not that it is proper for those who pray to rest in this opinion, which would throw an insuperable obstacle in their way to the throne of grace. It rather becomes them to strive to cherish, in opposition to it, the judgment of faith; and to penetrate even into heaven, where they may behold a hidden salvation. But still God permits them, the more effectually to disburden their minds, to tell him of the cares, anxieties, griefs, and fears, with which they are distressed. In the mention here made of the smoke of God’s wrath, there appears to be an implicit allusion to the incense which was used in the sacrifices under the law. The smoke of the incense served to purify the air; but the Israelites complain that the heavens were so obscured by a different smoke, that their sighs could not come up to God.


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