23.242 | Restore us, O God | Psalm 80:1-19 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

2023-10-09

Text: Psalm 80:1-19 (ESV) RESTORE US, O GOD Both Psalms, 79 and 80, are cries to God for salvation after Israel has suffered defeat and desolation. Its historical background is uncertain though. Yet, once again, the people plead with God for His decisive action that will save them from their present plight (v.1-3). 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 m...

Text: Psalm 80:1-19 (ESV)

RESTORE US, O GOD

Both Psalms, 79 and 80, are cries to God for salvation after Israel has suffered defeat and desolation. Its historical background is uncertain though. Yet, once again, the people plead with God for His decisive action that will save them from their present plight (v.1-3).

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!

They are overwhelmed with grief, are they not? God seemingly has forgotten them. And, their enemies mercilessly mock, deride and destroy them (v.4-7). This pain has prompted them to ask for God’s restoration.

4 O LORD 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 an object of contention for our neighbors,

and our enemies laugh among themselves.

7 Restore us, O God of hosts;

let your face shine, that we may be saved!

The psalmist described a metaphor for their relationship, God as the farmer and they are the vine. Like a vine, they were transplanted from Egypt into Canaan, where they grew and spread. It covered the mountains, burst its boundaries, and reached the Lebanon mountains and the Euphrates River (v.8-11).

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.

But, why then does God allow the wild beasts of the forest to plunder and destroy his vineyard? Why does he allow enemy nations to crush Israel (v.12-13)? Definitely, they felt God had left them as a vineyard untilled and uncultivated.

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.

The people pray that God will rescue the suffering nation, that he will save the damaged vine and restore it to healthy growth (v.14-16).

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,

and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.

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

may they perish at the rebuke of your face!