INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 80 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN UPON SHOSHANNIMEDUTH, A PSALM OF ASAPH. Of the word "shoshannim", Psalms 45:1, and of "shushaneduth", Psalms 60:1 which seems to be the same with this here, and is thought by some to be the name of a musical instrument now unknown, as Kimchi and Ben Me... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL,.... The title of a shepherd for the most part belongs to the Messiah, and who is expressly called the Shepherd and stone of Israel, as distinct from the God of Jacob, Genesis 49:24 and may be so called because he was to be, and was of Israel, according to the flesh,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE EPHRAIM, BENJAMIN, AND MANASSEH, STIR UP THY STRENGTH,.... Which Christ did in the public ministry of the word, speaking as one having authority, and not as the Scribes and Pharisees; and in the performance of miracles, openly, and in the sight of all; and in his sufferings and death for the... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
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 P... [ Continue Reading ]
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,... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN US AGAIN, O GOD OF HOSTS,.... The same with Psalms 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.... [ Continue Reading ]
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 mor... [ Continue Reading ]
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, ch... [ Continue Reading ]
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 p: in a figurative sen... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE SENT OUT HER BOUGHS UNTO THE SEA,.... The Mediterranean, or midland sea, which was the border of the land of Canaan to the west: AND HER BRANCHES UNTO THE RIVER; the river Euphrates, which was its border to the east; see Deuteronomy 11:24. This, in the spiritual sense of it, will have its accom... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY HAST THOU THEN BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES,.... After having done all this for her; which signifies the Lord's removing his presence, power, and protection, from Israel; which were the hedge he set about them, and by which they were secured and defended from their enemies; but these being gone, they... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BOAR OUT OF THE WOOD DOTH WASTE IT,.... As Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, who carried the ten tribes captive; the title of this psalm in the Septuagint version is, a psalm for the Assyrian. Vitringa, on Isaiah 24:2 interprets this of Antiochus Epiphanes, to whose times he thinks the psalm refers;... [ Continue Reading ]
RETURN, WE BESEECH THEE, O GOD OF HOSTS,.... The Lord had been with his vine, the people of Israel, when he brought them out of Egypt, and planted and settled them in the land of Canaan, and made them a flourishing people; but had departed from them when he suffered the hedges about them to be broke... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE VINEYARD WHICH THY RIGHT HAND HATH PLANTED,.... The word "Cannah" is only used in this place, and the first letter of it is larger than usual, to keep in perpetual remembrance, as is thought by some t, the bringing of this vine out of Egypt, and the great things done for it in the land of Is... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS BURNT WITH FIRE, IT IS CUT DOWN,.... That is, the vine of Israel, and the branch before spoken of, alluding to a vine, and its branches; which, when become unprofitable, are cut down or cut off, and cast into the fire; see John 15:6, so Jerusalem and the temple were burnt with fire by Nebuchad... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THY HAND BE UPON THE MAN OF THY RIGHT HAND,.... Which some understand of the people of Israel in general, beloved, supported, and strengthened, by the Lord: and others of the then king of Israel, or Judah, the vinedresser, or keeper of the vineyard under God; praying that he might be directed, s... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WILL NOT WE GO BACK FROM THEE,.... From thy fear, as the Targum; or from thy service, as Kimchi; doing as above would encourage them to stand before the Lord, and worship him; which they could not do, if he marked their sins, and demanded satisfaction from them for them; but if he looked to his S... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN US AGAIN, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS,.... This is a repetition of Psalms 80:3, in which may be observed an increase of the names or titles of the Divine Being: in Psalms 80:3, it is only "O God"; in Psalms 80:7 "O God of hosts"; and here, "Lord God of hosts"; some have thought that the doctrine of th... [ Continue Reading ]