Psalms 80

The tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant” is unknown today.

• O Shepherd of Israel: See also Psalm 23:1; 28:9; 78:52–53.

• shine forth … mighty power: These expressions (Psalm 145:11) refer to God's visible presence.

The psalmist urgently calls upon the Lord to act.

This psalm of lament may come from the remnant (the small group that survived) of the northern kingdom after it fell in 722 BC. The people call on God as their Shepherd and as the God of Hosts (a title that describes God as the ruler over the armies of heaven). They hope that he will return to them and restore them.

They remember the Exodus and their special relationship with the Lord. The psalm ends with a promise of renewed commitment to him (Psalm 80:18).

This verse is repeated (with a growing intensity) in Psalm 80:7 and 19.

The people cry out for rescue from the shame of their recent defeat. The enemy’s victory is less devastating, however, than the knowledge that they themselves are objects of God’s wrath.

Israel had been like a fruitful grapevine (Genesis 1:28; Galatians 5:22–23) that God transplanted to Canaan at the time of the conquest. However, the people forgot the source of their prosperity and chose to do evil (Isaiah 5:1–7; Hosea 10:1).

Israel has a glorious past that began when God rescued the people from Egypt.

Solomon’s kingdom had extended west to the Mediterranean Sea and east to the Euphrates River (see Psalms 72:8–9; 89:25; 1 Kings 4:21).

broken down its walls: God no longer defended Israel (Isaiah 5:5).

The surrounding nations were ceremonially unclean, like a wild boar or vicious wild animals.

Israel was the son that God had brought out of Egypt (see Hosea 11:1) and planted him in the Holy Land.

The community prays for God to change their desperate situation and restore them. They are still the Lord’s chosen people.

The son God chose was probably the northern kingdom of Israel. But it may also refer to the king from David’s line (Psalm 110:1).