The author of Psalm 80 was possibly Asaph or one of his descendants. Probably written after the northern kingdom of Israel was defeated and its people sent back to Assyria. This psalm is a prayer for revival and restoration after experiencing such destruction. God is our only hope for salvation!
Psalm 80:3 - "Restore us, O God; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved"
Psalm 80:7 - "Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved"
Psalm 80:19 - "Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved"
Three times the writer calls on God to "restore us." Before restoration must come repentance, turning away from sin. Repentance involves humbling ourselves and turning to God to receive his forgiveness. As we turn to God, he helps us see ourselves, including our sin, more clearly. Then, as we see our sin, we must repeat the process of repentance. Only then can we constantly be restored to fellowship with God.
Psalm 80:17 - "Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself"
"The man at your right hand" is probably not the Messiah, but Israel, whom God calls elsewhere his "firstborn son" (Exodus 4:22 - Then say to Pharaoh, "This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son"). The psalmist is making a plea that God would restore his mercy to Israel, the people he chose to bring his message into the world.
Psalm 80 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.
3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.
4 O Lord God Almighty,
how long will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us a source of contention to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
7 Restore us, O God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
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,
and it took root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its boughs to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.
12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
13 Boars from the forest ravage it,
and the creatures from the field feed on it.
14 Return to us, O God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
15 the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.
16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.
17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.