Psalm 80:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 80:4-6

Psalms 80:4-6. How long wilt thou be angry, &c. Thou art so far from answering our prayers, whereby we seek thy favour, that, by thy continuing and increasing our miseries, thou seemest to be more incensed against us by them. But the words may be rendered, How long dost thou preserve thy wrath during the prayer of thy people? Thou feedest them with the bread of tears With tears instead of bread, which they either want, or cannot eat because their grief hath taken away their appetites:... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:1-19

Psalms 79-80 Cries from a conquered peopleLike a previous psalm of Asaph, Psalms 79:0 is from the time of Jerusalem’s destruction and the taking of the people into captivity. (For an outline of events see introductory notes to Psalms 74:0.) The historical setting for Psalms 80:0 is not clear. Both psalms, 79 and 80, are cries to God for salvation after Israel has suffered defeat and desolation.The scene around Jerusalem is one of horror. The temple has been destroyed, the city is in ruins, and... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 80:5

5. bread of tears—still an Eastern figure for affliction. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 80:1-19

Psalms 80Again Asaph called on God to deliver and restore Israel. The nation was downtrodden and needed Yahweh’s salvation. This community lament psalm is unusual because of the figure the psalmist used to describe Israel. He pictured the nation as a grape vine (Psalms 80:8-16). The fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. may be in view. [Note: Kidner, Psalms 73-150, p. 288.] Psalms 77, 81 also lament the destruction of Samaria, the former capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel."Except for the books of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 80:4-7

2. A lament due to divine discipline 80:4-7The title "Lord of hosts" suggests God’s ability to deliver His people whenever He chooses to do so. The Lord’s silence in response to the people’s cries for deliverance implied that He was angry with them. As a shepherd, God had fed His people, but He had given them tears to eat and to drink rather than nourishing food. Their condition led their neighbor nations to mock them. This pericope also closes with the refrain (cf. Psalms 80:3; Psalms 80:19). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 80:1-19

This Ps. is an appeal to God to save His people from the adversities that have come upon them, and have made them the laughing stock of their enemies (Psalms 80:1-7). Their past history is recalled under the figure of a vine, once flourishing, but now wasted by wild beasts and fire (Psalms 80:8-16). Special prominence is given to the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (Psalms 80:2). The Ps. was probably written at least after the fall of the northern kingdom (721 b.c., 2 Kings 17:5-6; 2... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 80:5

(5) Bread of tears.—See Psalms 42:3.In great measure.—Heb., shalîsh, i.e., a third part. (Comp. Isaiah 40:12, Margin.) Probably meaning a third part of an ephah. (See Exodus 16:36; Isaiah 5:10, LXX.) But here evidently used in a general way, as we say “a peck of troubles.” read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Psalms 80:1-19

The Mightiness of Redemption Psalms 80:2 The greatest of all helps to realize the magnitude of redemption is the experimental sense, the unwrought consciousness of 'the exceeding sinfulness of sin'. Take this for an axiom. He thinks lightly of the greatness of redemption who thinks lightly of the power of sin. He regards Jesus as a superfluous helper who regards Satan as a contemptible foe. The two spiritual conceptions are co-equal, correlative. It is when like David we cry out, 'Innumerable... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:1-19

Psalms 80:1-19THIS psalm is a monument of some time of great national calamity; but its allusions do not enable us to reach certainty as to what that calamity was. Two striking features of it have been used as clues to its occasion-namely, the designation of the nation as "Joseph," and the mention, of the three tribes in Psalms 80:2. Calvin, Delitzsch, Hengstenberg, and others are led thereby to regard it as a prayer by an inhabitant of Judah for the captive children of the northern kingdom;... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Psalms 80:1-19

Psalms 80:0 Looking to Heaven for Help Through the Man at His Right Hand 1. Calling to the Shepherd (Psalms 80:1-4 ) 2. The ruin of His inheritance (Psalms 80:5-16 ) 3. The Man of the right hand (Psalms 80:17-19 ) This Psalm continues the same theme. They call now definitely to the Shepherd, He who is enthroned in glory between the Cherubim. They ask Him to “shine forth,” to manifest Himself in glory and power for their salvation, to answer their cries for help. Three times they plead,... read more