Old Testament Commentary - Psalms 80

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 80 Israel pleads with the Shepherd of Israel for deliverance, for salvation, and that his face shall shine upon them.
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim-Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph.
1 GIVE ear, O ^aShepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph^a like a flock; *thou that dwellest between* the ^bcherubims^b*, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and* save us. 3 ^aTurn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.	1^a O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph Though the Bible is a product of Jewish compilation and editing (See Moses 1:40-41), still there are threads of Joseph's association with the Lord to be found. Here the Shepherd of Israel, who Jacob blessed Joseph to come thence from him (See Genesis 49:22-26 especially v24), is directly associated with Joseph as he who is the leader of Joseph. It is unto those of the remnant of the seed of Joseph that the New Jerusalem in America will be built (See Ether 13:6 & 10). It is the promised land of America which is Joseph's land (See Ether 13:8). And it is the Lord who will come to that New Jerusalem, and from thence, the land of Joseph, to rule and reign at the head thereof (See Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph). 1^b thou that dwellest between the cherubims Of course this is in reference to the Mercy Seat of the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle or Temple of the Lord. The cherubims are those winged entities which represent 'justice' on the one hand and 'mercy' on the other. Justice must be satisfied, and mercy is offered unto all who do turn unto the Lord. Jesus, Jehovah, does and will sit to judge Israel, all of mankind. This Mercy Seat or Throne of God in the temple sits atop of the ark of the covenant, as we are bound by the covenant unto him and he unto us.	4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5 ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah 5^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Spirit Creation ^c TG Creation ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of ^e Moses 3:5
4 O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? 5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. 6 Thou makest us a ^astrife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.		4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5 ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah 5^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Spirit Creation ^c TG Creation ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of ^e Moses 3:5
7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. 8 Thou hast brought a ^avine out of ^bEgypt: thou hast ^ccast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.		4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5 ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah 5^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Spirit Creation ^c TG Creation ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of ^e Moses 3:5
10 The hills were ^acovered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. 11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.		4^a Moses 3:4-5; Abr. 5:4-5 ^b TG Jesus Christ—Jehovah 5^a TG Nature, Earth ^b TG Spirit Creation ^c TG Creation ^d TG Man, Physical Creation of ^e Moses 3:5
12 Why hast thou then ^abroken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? 13 The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.
14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; 15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.
16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. 17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.
18 So will not we ^ago back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. 19 ^aTurn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.