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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 80:1-7

The psalmist here, in the name of the church, applies to God by prayer, with reference to the present afflicted state of Israel. I. He entreats God's favour for them (Ps. 80:1, 2); that is all in all to the sanctuary when it is desolate, and is to be sought in the first place. Observe, 1. How he eyes God in his address as the Shepherd of Israel, whom he had called the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 79:13), under whose guidance and care Israel was, as the sheep are under the care and conduct of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:4

O Lord God of hosts ,.... Aben Ezra and Kimchi observe, that the word "Elohe" is here understood, and the words to be read, "O Lord God, the God of hosts"; of the armies above and below, against whom there is no standing, nor any before him when he is angry: how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people ? which must be put up in a wrong manner, in a very cold and lukewarm way, without faith and love, and with wrath and doubting; or otherwise God is not angry with, nor sets... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:5

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears ,.... With tears instead of bread, having none to eat; or their bread is mingled with their tears, "dipped" therein, as the Targum; such was their constant grief, and the occasion of it, that they could not cease from tears while they were eating their meals, and so ate them with them F14 "----lachrymisque suis jejunia pavit", Ovid. Metamorph. l. 4. Fab. 6. : and givest them tears to drink in great measure ; or the wine of tears "three... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:6

Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours ,.... Either obliges us to contend with them for our defence and safety; or having given us into their hands, they strive and contend one with another about dividing the spoil: and our enemies laugh among themselves ; at us, and because there is no help for us in God, as they imagine; or at God himself, as Kimchi, saying he cannot save as. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:7

Turn us again, O God of hosts ,.... The same with Psalm 80:3 , only instead of God there, here it is "the God of hosts"; the repetition of these words shows what was uppermost on the minds of God's people; what they were longing for, and most desirous of, namely, the light of God's countenance. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 80:5

Thou feedest them with the bread of tears - They have no peace, no comfort, nothing but continual sorrow. In great measure - שליש shalish , threefold. Some think it was a certain measure used by the Chaldeans, the real capacity of which is not known. others think it signifies abundance or abundantly. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 80:6

Thou makest us a strife - The neighboring districts have a controversy about us; we are a subject of contention to them. A people so wonderfully preserved, and so wonderfully punished, is a mystery to them. They see in us both the goodness and severity of God. Or, all the neighboring nations join together to malign and execrate us. We are hated by all; derided and cursed by all. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 80:4

Verse 4 4O Jehovah, God of Hosts! God having in the Scriptures freely promised, and so often assured us, that the prayers of his people will not be disappointed, it may excite our surprise to find the faithful here alleging before him, that he continues unpacified, although they betake themselves to him. They complain not only that they are not heard, but also that he is angry, when they call upon him; as if he purposely rejected this religious service. Where, then, it may be said, is that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 80:5

Verse 5 5Thou hast fed us with bread of tears, etc. By these forms of expression, they depict the greatness of their grief, and the long continuance of their calamities; as if they had said, We are so filled with sorrow, that we can contain no more. (388) They add, in the following verse that they were made a strife to their neighbors This admits of being explained in two ways. It means either that their neighbors had taken up a quarrel against them; or that, having obtained the victory over... read more

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