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
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
God's redemption. "It is not a bringing back out of exile that is here prayed for, for the people are still on the soil of their own country; but in their present Feebleness they are no longer like themselves, but stand in need of Divine intervention, the shining forth of the hidden countenance of God, in order again to attain a condition that is in harmony with the promises." Suggests— I. GOD HAS MADE A GLORIOUS REDEMPTION POSSIBLE FOR US . ( Psalms 80:8 .) Has... read more
A cry of weakness, a prayer of faith, "Turn us … we shall be turned." The life of the individual, of the Church, of the nation, depends not on means, methods, forms, institutions. With God is the fountain of life. These words are a cry of weakness, helplessness, humiliation; but also a prayer of faith, hope, joyful expectancy. I. A CONFESSION OF WEAKNESS , DANGER , SIN . 1 . In ordinary affairs a sense of weakness, helplessness, despondency, is the forerunner of failure,... read more
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours. A great invasion, Assyrian or Babylonian, was always a signal to the near neighbours of Israel—Syria, Moab, Ammon, Edom—to indulge in hostilities (see 2 Kings 24:2 ). And our enemies laugh among themselves (comp. Psalms 44:13 ; Psalms 79:4 ). read more
Thou makest us a strife - An occasion of strife or wrangling; that is, of strife among themselves, to see who will get the most of our spoils; or of contention, to see which could do most to aggravate their sufferings, and to bring disgrace and contempt upon them. They were emulous with each other in the work of desolation and ruin.Unto our neighbors - The surrounding nations. See Psalms 79:4.And our enemies laugh among themselves - Over our calamities. They exult; they glory; they triumph in... read more
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
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
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
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