(3) Turn us again—i.e., “restore us,” not necessarily with reference to the Captivity, but generally, restore us to our pristine prosperity.Cause thy face to shine.—The desert encampment and march is still in the poet’s thought. As in Psalms 67:1 (see Note) we have here a reminiscence of the priestly benediction.Saved.—Or, helped. This verse constitutes the refrain. read more
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
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
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
80:3 {c} Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.(c) Join your whole people, and all your tribes together again. read more
The first psalm in this lesson suggests Psalms 74:0 on which we did not dwell, but both of which depict the desolations of Judah by the Babylonians (compare Jeremiah 52:12-14 ). On this supposition their date would be that of the captivity, and their author a later Asaph than the Asaph mentioned in David’s time. Psalms 80:0 Has captivity features also. Some would say it relates to the ten tribes, as the preceding psalm does to Judah. The next several psalms are much alike in this respect and... read more
These tribes, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, are probably put for all Israel. As if the church begged that Christ's favor to his people should be as conspicuous, as the pillar of cloud had been in the camp before all Israel. read more
1-7 He that dwelleth upon the mercy-seat, is the good Shepherd of his people. But we can neither expect the comfort of his love, nor the protection of his arm, unless we partake of his converting grace. If he is really angry at the prayers of his people, it is because, although they pray, their ends are not right, or there is some secret sin indulged in them, or he will try their patience and perseverance in prayer. When God is displeased with his people, we must expect to see them in tears,... read more
Prayer for the Deliverance of the Church. To the chief musician upon Shoshannim-Eduth, to be rendered in public worship according to the melody "Lilies a Testimony," a psalm of Asaph, the hymn referring to the testimony of Jehovah before His people and speaking in a prophetic strain of the tribulation and deliverance of the Church of God. v. 1. Give ear, lending His ear in the attitude of most careful attention. O Shepherd of Israel, Jehovah being the true Shepherd and Protector of the... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Psalms 80:2
(2) Before Ephraim . . .—The tribes named from Joseph’s sons and his uterine brother naturally range together; they encamped side by side on the west of the Tabernacle, and when the ark moved forward they took their places immediately behind it to head the procession. The preposition “before” would alone show that this ancient arrangement, and no recent political event, determines the manner in which the poet introduces the tribes. It is used of a funeral procession (2 Samuel 3:31; Job 21:33). read more