Psalm 80:3-19

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 80:8-19

The psalmist is here presenting his suit for the Israel of God, and pressing it home at the throne of grace, pleading with God for mercy and grace for them. The church is here represented as a vine (Ps. 80:8, 14) and a vineyard, Ps. 80:15. The root of this vine is Christ, Rom. 11:18. The branches are believers, John 15:5. The church is like a vine, weak and needing support, unsightly and having an unpromising outside, but spreading and fruitful, and its fruit most excellent. The church is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:3

Turn us again, O God ,.... From our captivity, as the Targum, into our own land; or return us backsliding sinners to thyself by repentance; turn us, and we shall be turned; for the prayer shows it was not in their power, but must be effected by the grace of God; or restore our souls, which have been wandering, and them to their former flourishing and comfortable condition: and cause thy face to shine ; grant thy gracious presence, lift up the light of thy countenance; favour with 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:8

Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt ,.... The house of Israel, who are like unto a vine, as the Targum paraphrases it; and to a vine or vineyard are they often compared; see Isaiah 5:1 , Jeremiah 2:21 . These were in Egypt awhile, where they were grievously oppressed and trampled upon; and yet the more they were afflicted, the more they grew and multiplied; and from hence the Lord brought them in due time, with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; he caused them to go out ; the word... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:9

Thou preparedst room before it ,.... By sending the hornet before the Israelites, and driving the Canaanites out of the land, Exodus 23:28 and so the Targum, "thou didst remove from before thee the Canaanites;' which made way and room for them: and thus the Lord prepared room for his interest, church, and people, in the Gentile world, in the first times of Christianity, by sending the Gospel into all parts of it, and making it successful, and still there is room, Luke 14:22 . and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 80:10

The hills were covered with the shadow of it ,.... Alluding to the land of Canaan, which was a mountainous and hilly country, at least some part of it; hence we read of the hill country of Judea, Luke 1:39 and to the nature of vines, which delight to grow on hills and mountains F16 "Bacchus amat colles----" Virgil Georgic. l. 2. v. 113. : in a figurative sense this may denote the subjection of kings and kingdoms, comparable to hills, to the Israelites in the times of David and... read more

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