Psalms
Chapter 80
Shepherd or Israel, Listen
Listen, O shepherd of Israel, you, who lead Joseph like a flock; you, who sit enthroned between the cherubim.
Shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Stir up your might and come to save us.
Restore us, O God of hosts; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
O Lord of hosts, how long will your anger burn against the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of woe, and have given them tears to drink in their sorrow.
You have made us the scorn of our neighbors and the laughingstock of our oppressors.
Restore us, O God of hosts; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
You had a vine you brought from Egypt. You drove nations out, to plant it in their land.
On the ground that you cleared, it took root and filled the land.
Its shade covered the mountains, its shoots went through the mighty cedars,
its branches reached out to the sea and its shoots to the River.
Why, then, have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pluck its fruits?
The beasts of the forest ravage it and all creatures of the field feed on it.
Turn again, O Lord of hosts, look down from heaven and see; care for this vine,
and protect the stock your hand has planted.
Let those who burned it down perish at your rebuke.
But lay your hand on your instrument, on the son of man, whom you make strong for yourself.
Then, we will never turn away from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, O Lord, God of hosts; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
Commentaries
80
The theme is quite similar to that of the previous psalm, but the scene shifts to the northern kingdom, where the axe struck first. Samaria was conquered in 721 B.C. and populated with a diverse group of idol-worshipping immigrants—so many weeds in God’s garden. What has he done in his vineyard? Clearly, there’s no mention of the wild grapes this chosen vine produced (Is 5:1-7). The psalmist dares to ask ‘why’? The prophet Amos could give the answer: about thirty years earlier, he had condemned the luxury and oppression of the ruling classes (Am 6:4-7). But we should sympathize with the psalmist, who has learned that dwelling on past sins is a pointless exercise.
The shining face of God is remembered in John 14:9 and Hebrews 1:3, as well as during the transfiguration in the Gospels (cf. Mt 17:2; cf. 2 Cor 4:6). God’s gaze saves, even in our present time.