Psalm 80.
Psalm 80 continues the cry of the 79th psalm on behalf of the people of Israel. Notice that the language used refers not to the godly remnant in the midst of, or separated from, an ungodly generation, as in the Second Book of the Psalms, or to the trials of the righteous man in the midst of those who reject God’s testimony (often it is Christ that is spoken of) as in the First Book; here the appeal is for Israel, the nation, that it be restored and revived as of old.
This psalm looks to God as the Shepherd of Israel, as Israel’s God. (See Isaiah 40:10, 11; Exodus 25:10-22). Past the centuries of their wanderings as “Not My People” (Hosea 1:9), scattered among the Gentiles, this psalm turns back to the first, bright days of Israel, and so in verse 2 we have the three tribes who were nearest the ark in the camp on the wilderness journey (Numbers 2:18-24), and who immediately followed the sanctuary on the march (Numbers 10:22-24). Israel then here in faith looks to Jehovah, God of hosts to lead them in displayed power as of old.
He had brought out a vine from Egypt, and planted it; it had grown great, but its fences were broken down; it was wasted and became food for the beast of the field. (See Isaiah 5:1-7). All this is acknowledged, it was God’s dealing with Israel because of fearful sins; but to Him Israel is here seen to look, and to call for deliverance.
Verse 17 introduces the Lord Jesus, the lowly One, despised and rejected of men, the Son of Man as He is here called, and in that title, He will appear. (See Daniel 7:13, 14; Matthew 20:18, and 26:64).
All Israel’s blessing depends upon the Man they rejected and scorned and crucified, Whom God has made the Man of His right hand, made Him strong for Himself, as the verse reads. In Christ we see the eternal God become man in lowly grace; manhood once assumed, He will never give it up, and as man, yes, as Son of Man, He will come forth in power to reign where He was crucified.
The last two verses ascribe to God the power for which Israel waits: “Revive us, and we will call upon Thy name; Restore us, and we shall be saved.”
When faith thus looks to God, there will be blessing. Does not the earnestness, the confidence expressed in the prayers in the Psalms, remind us who are believers, that we do not pray as often, and as earnestly, as believingly, as we should?
ML 03/29/1931